Huddersfield Town ratings from Groundhog Day Trophy encounter with Barnsley
Once again Town dominated, once again they won it 2-0 in the second half with the second coming in injury time
Chris Maxwell - 6
Passenger, for all the right reasons.
Matty Pearson - 7
Back out on the right of the back three with Tom Lees in to play in the middle. Was left hurt in a 50/50 challenge just before the break but was able to continue. Get up the right wing and played some decent crosses, as well as some nice exchanges with Lasse Sorensen.
Tom Lees - 6
Had a bouncing header blocked on the line from one of Town’s 427 first-half set pieces. Genuinely didn’t have a huge amount to do off the ball as Town dominated the game.
Nigel Lonwijk - 7
Really solid performance and showed his class on the ball. Got forward up the left at every opportunity and looked dangerous doing it. His interception set Town on the way to their opener. Not much else he could have done after getting onto Antony Evans’ cross from the left midway through the second half.
Lasse Sorensen - 7
Had Georgie Gent’s number again, just as he did on Saturday. Played some great balls into the box that created chances for Town — not many of them crosses, either.
Herbie Kane - 6
Played alongside Jonathan Hogg in the deeper-lying playmaker role. Had a claim for a penalty correctly turned down late in the first half: looked to have starting going down before Jon Russell made his tackle. Good to see him get 90 minutes.
Jonathan Hogg - 7
Gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times early on, but settled into it and was a key part in Town’s constant switches from one wing to the other. Finished the game strongly, playing a part in several good attacking moves.
Jaheim Headley - 6
Decent showing from the wing-back, and did a responsible job with his defending, for the most part, before some lapses late on in the game. Got into the box a few times but unable to do anything with it once he got there, largely due to good Barnsley defending.
Antony Evans - 7
Stationed just behind the front two. Played in some really dangerous set piece deliveries that just needed a finish on the end. Wasted a header of his own early in the second half after getting in behind Freddie Ladapo to meet Pearson’s cross. Played in Bojan Radulovic to tee up the opener, then just three minutes later made an interception to put a dangerous cross across the face of the goal that Ben Killip did well to tip away from Radulovic. Saw a near-identical ball for Lonwijk saved. Had some frustrating moments but also played some impressive cross-field balls.
Bojan Radulovic - 6
Dropped deep to help build swift attacks numerous times to good effect. Made the run into the box just before the hour form which Town scored, spotting Ladapo free to finish at the back stick. Denied a tap-in shortly after by the goalkeeper’s intervention off Evans’ cross.
Freddie Ladapo - 6
Continues to look off the pace, but then that’s why he started this game: to get minutes. Had perhaps Town’s most dangerous effort of the first half saved at the end of an excellent passing move through the Barnsley defence. Should have squared to the unmarked Radulovic after getting in off an interception late in the first half — but Radulovic didn’t hold it against him, turning the tables to give Ladapo a tap-in for his first Town goal.
Substitutes
Rhys Healey (for Ladapo 71) - Made a welcome return from his lay-off with a hamstring issue. Hit the post with a diving header that he really should have buried. 6
Danny Ward (for Radulovic 71) - Another on his way back from injury, and a suspension before that. Marked his return with a well-taken goal off Iorpenda’s cross. 7
Tom Iorpenda (for Evans 72) - Took over in attacking midfield in a like-for-like swap. Drew a cynical foul from Donovan Pines to stop him getting into the box that saved the Barnsley man sent off. Great movement in half spaces to cause Barnsley trouble and got a deserved assist by crossing for Ward to poke home. 8
Ollie Turton (for Sorensen 77) - Came on to relieve Sorensen at wing-back. Fabulous cross for the Healey header that hit the post and played in Iorpenda to set up the second goal. Brief but bright outing. 7
Unused substitutes: Jacob Chapman, Josh Ruffels, David Kasumu.
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