Town beaten in the Carabao Cup

- Huddersfield Town 2-3 Middlesbrough
- Town knocked out of the Carabao Cup
- Goals from Kian Harratt and Kyle Hudlin

Huddersfield Town were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, defeated 2-3 by Middlesbrough at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Despite scoring first and last in this evening’s game, the goals from Kian Harrat and Kyle Hudlin weren’t enough to secure Town’s place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The first action of the game was Town’s opening goal in the fourth minute as Kian Harratt scored his first senior goal at home in his first senior start for the club. The young forward was in the right place at the right time as Josh Austerfield collected an errant ball out of defence and sent it to Harratt in the centre of the box; he fired the ball into the back of the net.

Unfortunately, Jaheim Headley was shown a red card in the 13th minute for denying Isaiah Jones a clear goal scoring opportunity, who was played through on goal as he tried to find the equaliser – Town were down to 10 men.

This was closely followed by another chance for our visitors to equalise after a long range shot from Daniel Barlaser went just wide of the goal, but our ‘keeper had it covered and went the right way to make the save if he was needed to.

Middlesbrough got their equaliser in the 20th minute through Sammy Silvera; he cut around Brodie Spencer and hit the ball off the near post, it then went across the back of Maxwell and into the back of the nett off the far post.

Town were awarded a corner in the 27th minute after Harratt’s shot from the centre of the box was knocked out after great play between Jordan Rhodes and Brahima Diarra – the corner was taken by Ben Jackson and fell amongst the Terriers in the box, but nobody could get a clear shot on target.

Rhodes was then fouled by Hayden Coulsen outside the box, so a free kick was awarded to Town. Yuta Nakayama stood over the free-kick and took it direct; his shot was low and was headed on target, but this was anticipated well by Tom Glover, and he scooped the ball up.

Shortly after this, Harratt received the ball inside the box, but he couldn’t get a clear shot on target, so he sent the ball to Diarra, who was unmarked on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved low in the centre of the goal.

In the last minute of extra time in the first half, Nakayama forced Glover to put the ball out for a corner after he ran onto the ball in the box and fired it towards the goal. Both sides went into the second half with everything to play for.

Maxwell made a great save at the beginning of the second half and denied Morgan Rogers the chance to take the lead after he had done well to spin in the box away from his man.

Not long after this, Austerfield is in a great position as he headed back towards his own goal and cut out a low cross across the six-yard box.

Boro’s second goal came in the 64th minute as Isaiah Jones was played onside at close range and then chipped the ball into the back of the net – multiple Town players went to clear it off the line but couldn’t get there in time.

Our visitors final goal came in the 82nd minute through second half substitute Riley McGree as he carried the ball into the box and then found the back of the net as Diarra came for the tackle.

However, Town managed to get another goal back before the final whistle – four minutes after coming off the bench, Kyle Hudlin scored through a diving header from close range into the far post from a Pat Jones cross, but this was one of the final pieces of play and Town’s Cup run is over.

Town’s Team (4-3-2-1)
Chris Maxwell; Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina, Yuta Nakayama (Connor Mahoney, 86’), Jaheim Headley; Ben Jackson, Jonathan Hogg (c) (Scott High, 46’), Josh Austerfield; Jordan Rhodes (Pat Jones, 63’), Brahima Diarra (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 63’); Kian Harratt (Kyle Hudlin, 89’)

Unused Subs
Lee Nicholls, Josh Ruffels, Josh Koroma, Sorba Thomas

Goal Scorers
Kian Harratt (4'), Kyle Hudlin (90+4')

Red Card
Jaheim Headley (13')