TOWN 4 BLACKPOOL 2
Huddersfield Town continued their impressive form with a 4-2 win at home to Blackpool, but a frantic five-goal first half tested The Terriers’ resilience in the second 45 minutes.
Town blew their opponents away within the first 16 minutes and found themselves 3-0 up. Grant Holt scored his first goal for his new club after Sean Scannell put through Conor Coady down the right, crossing for Holt to head past Joe Lewis.
Seven minutes later and Scannell was again involved in Town’s second. Right-back Tommy Smith released Scannell with a clever reverse ball, who then pulled back for Harry Bunn to score his first home goal for Chris Powell’s men.
Scannell then went one better, again providing for Bunn with an almost carbon copy of Town’s second goal to seemingly put the game to bed after less than half the first period.
Nevertheless, Blackpool bided their time and with less than two minutes to play in the first half; goals from a Tony McMahon free kick just outside the Town area and Donervon Daniels reduced the deficit to just one going into the second half.
The second half began in a similar manner to the first with Scannell causing serious problems for the visitors as he powered forward with the ball. The pacey winger managed to fashion an early chance for himself, yet Joe Lewis was equal to his efforts.
It took Town another 15 minutes after the restart to score their fourth of the game, and this was arguably the best. Jacob Butterfield fired a thumping volley from outside the Blackpool area into the bottom corner, after defender Jeffrey Rentmesiter failed to properly clear a low cross.
Blackpool did have their chances to pile more pressure on The Terriers as the second period progressed; however Alex Smithies denied The Tangerines on a few occasions – a strong right hand denied Delfouneso from close range and Ishmael Miller’s frustrating afternoon was solidified after Smithies collected a weak effort late on.
Powell made two changes approaching the end of the game. Danny Ward replaced goal-scorer Grant Holt and Martin Paterson made his first appearance of the season when he replaced Bunn.
The win gives Town 10 points from a possible 12 and helps Chris Powell’s side climb to 17th in the Championship table going into the fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night.
Town’s Team: (4-3-3)
Alex Smithies, Jack Robinson, Joel Lynch, Mark Hudson (c), Tommy Smith; Jonathan Hogg, Conor Coady, Jacob Butterfield; Harry Bunn (Martin Paterson, 84), Grant Holt (Danny Ward, 81), Sean Scannell
Unused Subs:
Joe Murphy, Murray Wallace, Nahki Wells, Lee Peltier, Radoslaw Majewski
