Town head into the New Year with three points and a clean sheet at home
- Huddersfield Town 2-0 Rotherham United
- Duane Holmes and Jordan Rhodes on the scoresheet
- Intensity secured Town all three points
Huddersfield Town earned all three points in a great team performance against Rotherham United in the Sky Bet Championship.
A first half goal from Duane Holmes and a second half goal from Jordan Rhodes, alongside our relentless effort meant that we never looked like losing.
That secured our first back-to-back wins of the season, and lifted the Terriers off the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table.
The Terriers dominated both the first and second half on Thursday evening.
After an even start, the first clear chance for either side came from our visitors after Tom Eaves was played onside in the box, but his shot went straight into the arms of Lee Nicholls.
However, after this Town looked to be the most dangerous as they pushed forwards and had multiple attempts at crossing the ball into the box, but Rotherham managed to get all of their men back in time as they blocked all of the chances. Kaine Kesler-Hayden broke through the line of defence and pulled Viktor Johansson off his line and was about to head past him onto goal - he appeared to be tripped by Johansson just outside the box, but a foul wasn’t given.
Great play between Jack Rudoni and David Kasumu worked the ball across to Kesler-Hayden, and despite his great cross into the box it was defended well by the Millers to deny the chance.
Shortly after this, the ball was passed to Rudoni on the side of the box from Rhodes, who was positioned just on the edge of the centre of the box, and Rudoni crossed the ball to the far post and found the head of Duane Holmes, but this went high and over the bar – Town had the brightest start of both the sides.
Town took the lead in the 31st minute as Holmes scored his first goal of the season! Our number 19 created space for himself on the edge of the box before he moved into the area and hit the ball across the ‘keeper , with his effort striking the post on its way into the back of the net.
Not long after this, Kesler-Hayden was brought down by Cohen Bramall just outside the area. The set-piece was taken by Rudoni, who sent a great delivery into the box, but this was headed just wide by Tom Lees.
The last piece of action for the first half came in the first minute of added time as Rudoni carried the ball down the right side and sent a great ball into the box. Josh Ruffels and Rhodes sprinted into the box but they were unable to make contact on the ball and it went out for a goal kick.
Town came out in the second half just as well as they did in the first, while Rotherham also came out a better side as they searched for their equaliser.
Straight from the restart, Town looked ready to get their second of the evening as Rhodes sent a great cross from corner of the box on the edge of the goal line, but neither Holmes nor Rudoni could turn it into the back of the net.
Johansson made a great save in the 53rd minute as Rhodes almost made it two after great play from Rudoni and Holmes again. Rhodes was just unable to make a proper connection on his shot from close range and the Rotherham United ‘keeper reacted well to make the save.
Rhodes finally scored the second goal of the evening and made it two for the Terriers! After a brilliant ball was squared to him by Kesler-Hayden, Rhodes had a brilliant first touch and shot from just inside the box to score his 97th Town goal.
As they tried to get themselves back in the game, Chiedozie Ogbene shot for Rotherham United from inside the box, but this went straight to Nicholls, and he saved it comfortably.
Still applying the pressure on our Terriers, Oliver Rathbone played the ball to Jamie Lindsay in the centre of the box, but this went high and wide and their best chance to find the back of the net was missed.
A great defensive tackle was made by Kasumu as he raced back to his own goal line and dispossessed Ogbene who was clean through on goal, he then went the extra mile and earnt a goal kick for the side by knocking the ball out of play off the Rotherham player.
The last chance of the game came for our visitors as they had a half chance to get one back in the 78th minute, but their second half substitute Hakeem Odoffin headed the ball well high of the bar and the Terriers finish 2022 with back-to-back wins.
Town’s team (5-4-1)
Lee Nicholls; Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Will Boyle, Josh Ruffels; Jack Rudoni (Sorba Thomas, 61’), Jonathan Hogg, David Kasumu (Connor Mahoney, 85’), Duane Holmes (Etienne Camara, 85’); Jordan Rhodes (Tyreece Simpson, 74’)
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina
Goals
Duane Holmes (31’), Jordan Rhodes (56’)
