Why Huddersfield Town looked so much better in attack against Leyton Orient

Lee Grant's side started the new season with a three-goal win that showed plenty of threat in the final third

Huddersfield Town sit at the top of the League One table after scoring three unanswered goals against Leyton Orient. They also produced either the highest or second-highest expected goals in the division on the opening day, depending on whose figures you use.

Sporting Life puts the xG at 2.67, a number that Town exceeded in just two league games last season, most recently in the frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Burton Albion just after Christmas. (The other was in the 4-0 win over a self-destructive Bolton Wanderers side last September.)

More importantly, it was fun to watch them. So what did Lee Grant’s side do differently to get the result and bring the entertainment?

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Balls into space

Town suffered badly from a lack of variety last season, and were repeatedly taught that being more direct can be very effective at this level.

Outside the back four, Town are not the tallest side in the division this campaign. Nor were they last year, with fans repeatedly complaining that they needed an effective big man striker to offer a different dimension.

Grant’s answer to that has not been to go out and buy one, but seemingly to tell his players: ‘you’re quick. If you have to, just knock it over the defence and run onto it.‘

Town did so sparingly, but when they did go that way, it was effective. Marcus Harness provided perhaps the best example in the first half, spraying a big diagonal ball from his own half to find Ben Wiles’ storming run to the corner of the Orient box. Wiles had to wait for team-mates for support, but they were soon on the scene, resulting in Wiles having a shot well saved.