The Terriers completed their impressive end to the 2007/08 season under Gerry Murphy with a win at relegated Luton Town this afternoon thanks to a goal from substitute Phil Jevons on his return from a calf problem. He provided the spark in an otherwise typical end-of-season game, but the Terriers were rock solid at the back and fully deserved their three points.
Special credit must go to Murphy, who has ended the season unbeaten as caretaker manager. The 500 + Town fans sang his name as the teams left the field of play.
Town lined up in their 3-5-2 formation for the start of the game, with goalkeeper Matt Glennon behind a back three of Dave Mirfin and the Clarke brothers - Nathan and Tom. Joe Skarz and Andy Holdsworth were deployed as left and right wing-backs respectively, with James Berrett in the holding midfield role slightly behind central midfielders Jon Worthington and Michael Collins. Up front, Danny Schofield partnered skipper Andy Booth.
With the vocal Town urging them on, the Terriers bossed possession in the early stages. Boothy was aerially dominant against makeshift Luton centre-backs Hutchison and Asafu-Adjaye and Town were using that outlet to good effect.
Both sides saw early corners cleared, but it was Jo Worthington who was the first player to work a goalkeeper in the 13th minute. He collected a low ball into the box from Michael Collins on the right, but his shot on the turn never troubled Luton custodian Dean Brill as it trickled towards goal.
A minute later, former Bradford winger Lewis Emmanuel stung the palms of Matt Glennon with a well-struck long-ranger that went straight down the middle of the goal.
Town then created a great chance in the 15th minute. Danny Schofield found acres of space down the Town right when latching onto a good pass down the line from Nathan Clarke and he slid the ball back to Andy Holdsworth as he entered the box. However, Town's Player of the Season didn't steady himself before shooting and ballooned his shot well over the bar from 12 yards out.
Danny Schofield shot straight at Brill from an acute angle five minutes later before Andy Booth beat Hutchison to a loose ball and volleyed over a minute later.
Luton midfielder O'Leary drifted a 25-yard free-kick straight into Glennon's hands after 27 minutes, but by this stage the game was in a quiet period. The home side always looked a bit shaky at the back and on a few occasions third-man runs from midfielders Worthington and Collins were not being tracked by the Hatters midfielders.
Emmanuel and Davis were lively down the Luton left side and it was the latter's cross that big striker Sam Parkin headed well over the bar in the 35th minute.
The home side were enjoying their best spell of the game in this period and Parkin wasted their best chance of the game so far with a minute of the half remaining. Right winger Currie drifted infield to collect a pass from Spring before playing a clever reserve ball into the feet of striker Parkin. Tom Clarke wasn't tight enough to his man and the big striker turned to face goal before curling a right-footed effort just wide of Matt Glennon's left-hand post.
The referee brought an end to the half after just a minute of added time, sending Gerry Murphy and his team into the tunnel still searching for the opening goal.
Half-Time: Luton Town 0 Huddersfield Town 0
Luton defender Asafu-Adjaye had a snapshot go just wide of the Town goal after four minutes of the second-half after a Darren Currie corner had not been properly cleared and in general the home side started the second period in bright fashion. Jon Worthington flashed a weak header from a right-wing cross well wide of goal in the 52nd minute in Town's first meaningful attack.
Joe Skarz came close to opening his Town account in the 55th minute on his 50th professional appearance when he rose above right-back Jackson to nod a deep Holdsworth cross towards goal, but his effort lacked the necessary power and direction to beat the Luton 'keeper.
Matthew Spring headed another Currie corner over the bar from close range when under heavy pressure from two Town defenders in the 57th minute.
Luton were on top on the hour mark and Matt Glennon produced the best save of the game to deny Don Hutchison from scoring with a volley on the turn from around twelve yards out.
SUB - Gerry Murphy introduced Phil Jevons into the game on the 65th minute; the returning striker replacing James Berrett. 'Jevo' joined Andy Booth up front, with Danny Schofield dropping into an attacking midfield position.
The substitute was immediately in the action, supplying a right wing cross for Schofield whose back post shot was blocked at close range by 'keeper Brill. From the resulting corner, Dave Mirfin put a diving header over the bar at the near post.
SUB - Luton made their first change in the 68th minute, replacing Calvin Andrew with the experienced Paul Furlong.
Jevons' introduction had turned the tide in favour of the Terriers and Gerry Murphy's side were on the front foot. Michael Collins was next to try his luck, but his 25-yard shot went wide of Dean Brill's right-hand post.
SUBS - Luton made two changes in the 75th minute, replacing Currie and Sol Davis with Richard Langley and Jake Howells.
GOAL - Town broke the deadlock in the 77th minute and it was that man Phil Jevons who netted his ninth goal for the Club. The build-up was patient, with the ball eventually going out to Joe Skarz on the left courtesy of a pass from Danny Schofield. Skarz put in a great cross for Jevo, who was unmarked and headed past Dean Brill's left side from the penalty spot in front of the jubilant Huddersfield fans.
Jevons was a real livewire and his cheeky attempt at a lob over the goalkeeper from fully thirty yards in the 81st minute dropped inches over the Luton crossbar.
Matt Spring - one of the more impressive Luton players on the day - put a long range effort well wide in the 83rd minute but the Terriers - spurred on by the vocal Worthington in midfield - were well in control of proceedings.
In fact, there were no more shots in the game - meaning that Gerry Murphy completed his spell as caretaker manager with a record of four wins, two draws and no defeats.
Full-Time: Luton Town 0 Huddersfield Town 1
Huddersfield Town
Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Joe Skarz, Michael Collins, David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Jonathan Worthington, Danny Schofield, Tom Clarke, James Berrett (Phil Jevons 65), Andy Booth (c)
Unused Substitutes: Alex Smithies, Robbie Williams, Malvin Kamara, Luke Beckett
Attendance: 6,539
Away Supporters: 537
