For Those Who Did Not Attend

Apologies for lateness due to unforeseen spam filtering.

This game was very difficult to describe and analyse. Huddersfield looked at all times, better than Derby, yet Derby had more possession and created more chances. They also largely avoided continuous square passing. The crowd of 29,031 (3000 tyke fans) saw a boring game on an immaculate pitch, in spite of the fact that Huddersfield needed to win to preserve their automatic promotion prospects. Derby had little to play for except a few individuals trying to secure their future employment.

The Terriers wanted the ball more and their skills reflected the relative league positions and after 11 minutes Huddersfield scored. A very quick break and a neat pass to an unmarked right winger. He put in a low cross to Quaner who flicked it past Carson with the inside of his right heel. A rout promised but after that it was Derby who brought some great saves out of Ward in the Tykes goal, and frankly looked the more likely to score. In fact they did score when, after a smart move put Vydra in a good position and his shot might well have gone in, except Bent made sure by headed it smartly inside the post. Unfortunately he was offside. If he had not intervened, it seems likely the ball would have gone in anyway and it would not have been disallowed.

Whilst Huddersfield still looked generally more interested and superior, they caused little concern and Carson had little to do. Good defending by Derby? Maybe, but Derby somehow contrived to put the Huddersfield goal under more threat than Derby’s. Derby were enjoying more possession but the Tykes defence looked strong, physical and solid. It was both disappointing and worrying to go in at half-time still 0-1.

In the second half Derby’s superior possession continued but they still looked unlikely to score, mainly because of poor quality final balls. Still Huddersfield threatened little on Derby’s goal yet they still looked the more interested. Maybe it was a monumental battle of the mid-fields, whilst the two defences stayed firm, but one goal - and that at the wrong end for Derby fans - was surprising. GR then changed 3 players for 3 subs. Ince, Vydra and Johnson off for Butterfield, Camara and Russell. The fresh legs counted and of the three it was Russell who most impressed. Butterfield and Camara were pretty poor until, 2 minutes from full time, Butterfield hit a loose ball following good Derby pressure, from about 12 yards and it went in via a slight deflection.

Who played well? Hughes, in spite of playing as one of a pair of holding MF’s was my MOTM. He did his job well and also made some very telling forward passes. Johnson was not as constructive as usual and some of his distribution was wayward. Christie made some vital tackles and penetrated well though his final crosses were invariably poor. Olson played well even though their goal came from his territory. Perhaps because he was legitimately attacking gave way to a very quick Huddersfield breakaway. Vydra was good again and we certainly missed Nugent. Best (maybe) played in the shop window. He still has something and knows where the goal is but, for me, there is something lacking as well. I will not mention at all that Keogh played well as usual as did Pearce. As for Carson, my POTY, he had very little to do. GR will have learned much and should be very well equipped to start his rebuild. I hope we keep Hughes, but there could be quite a few candidates for removal vans from the Derby area.