Woeful Huddersfield Town player ratings from defeat to Northampton

Michael Duff's side put in a dreadful performance that saw them deservedly beaten 1-3 by the ten-man Cobblers

Lee Nicholls - 4

Was left wrong-footed by Michal Helik’s misdirected backpass and was unable to keep it from running into the net — should really have just got rid of it before then, though. Helpless for the second and left totally exposed one-on-one on the third.

Tom Lees - 4

Took a heavy tackle early on but able to continue. Unable to do enough to stop Tarique Fosu as he got in behind the counter-attack to set up Northampton’s second, but did well to hold him up — issue was nobody was there to stop the second runner, who then scored. Had far too much space to cover on his own for large spells of the game.

Michal Helik - 3

Won’t want to see his first-half own goal again as he passed it beyond Nicholls and into the bottom corner. Too casual about closing down Cameron McGeehan as he doubled the visitors’ lead and seemed rattled for a spell afterwards. A rare real off day overall for the centre-back.

Nigel Lonwijk - 5

Played a dangerous pass across the face of his own box that forced Helik into rushing that backpass. Generally fine otherwise, and spent the final stages of the game doing a decent enough job at left-back.

Lasse Sorensen - 2

We know Michael Duff wants him getting forward, but even with that in mind, just didn’t do enough defensively and left Lees exposed. Could be seen jogging into camera frame as the completely unmarked McGeehan picked his spot to double Northampton’s lead. Was overpowered by Fosu as he strolled through to make it three goals to the visitors. Did get one good ball in towards Ladapo that Northampton cleared, then went off shortly afterwards.

Antony Evans - 3

Really poor in the first half in an all-round dreadful performance from Town and not surprising to see him taken off at the break.

Jonathan Hogg - 5

The mildest of bright spots for Town, winning the ball well a few times in the Northampton third only for his teammates to be unable to do anything with it.

Ben Wiles - 4

Another of those ‘right ideas, wrong execution’ performances for the midfielder. Not good, but less egregious than some of his teammates.

Jaheim Headley - 2

In for the injured Mickel Miller in the only change to the side. Took a yellow card for cynically pulling down an opponent’s shorts to stop a counter-attack. Started OK but got gradually worse throughout the rest of the first half, then really poor in the second half with both decisions and execution.

Callum Marshall - 4

Strayed offside on a couple of Town’s rare promising first-half moves. Was given a lot of hopeless balls to chase and then was hooked at half time having not really had an impact on the game.

Josh Koroma - 4

Had a few bad touches early on and seemed to grow frustrated thereafter. Switched to the left of a 4-3-3 for the last 25 minutes or so. For a long time unable to make anything come off as intended, but finally got his goal and then earned Town a penalty moments later….only to take it Southgate-style and watch it saved before reverting to his prior frustrating performance.

Substitutes

Joe Hodge (for Evans 46) - Came on to take over the deep-lying role and try to offer a bit of playmaking. Showed some nice balls out to the flanks and a better ability to play in tight spaces. Keen to see more of him. 7

Freddie Ladapo (for Marshall 46) - Denied a tap-in by a superb defensive intervention — not that it would have mattered a great deal. Made some good runs and was the only one of the Town forwards to really look like causing Northampton issues. 6

Herbie Kane (for Hogg 63) - Back from his groin injury. Had a hand in Koroma’s consolation goal. 6

Bojan Radulovic (for Headley 63) - Sent on as part of a triple substitution with the result already beyond doubt. Had a chance to play in Koroma late on but misdirected his pass. 5

Brodie Spencer (for Sorensen 63) - Made his return from a shoulder injury and played at right-back in a four. Got forward well and played in some decent balls. 6

Unused substitutes: Jacob Chapman, Matty Pearson.

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