Town defeated at home
- Huddersfield Town 0-2 Sunderland
- Alex Pritchard and Amad Diallo secure win for Sunderland
- First defeat in three games
Huddersfield Town were beaten 0-2 by Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship at the John Smith’s Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Despite Town’s best efforts, it was the goals from Alex Pritchard and Amad Diallo in the second half that saw the Terriers defeated at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Although the first half finished goalless, the 45 minutes saw its fair share of chances from both sides.
A free kick for Town in the attacking half in the opening minutes started the chances for Town after David Kasumu was fouled. He used the set piece to pass the ball to Jack Rudoni, who turned and hit a shot that went just over the bar.
A corner for Town saw a great ball crossed in by Ben Jackson, eventually falling to Michał Helik, who aimed for the top corner, only to see the ball blocked and cleared back into open play.
A second corner was awarded to Town due to Championship debutant Brodie Spencer’s valiant efforts by the corner flag. This was delivered again by Jackson and, after a punch by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, Kasumu went for the rebound and shot from range, but it went wide and to the left of goal.
The first chance for Sunderland came in the 17th minute after the ball was crossed into the box and to the feet of Dennis Cirkin in space as he aimed for goal; his chance went across the face of goal and wide.
This was followed by a second attempt to take the lead from Sunderland as Corry Evans was sent the ball in the centre of the box and shot on target, which meant that Lee Nicholls had to make a brilliant save in the bottom right corner and palmed it away. However, this meant that Leon Dajaku could make his attempt on the rebound, but his shot went just wide and out for a goal kick to Town.
The Terriers tried to get back on the front foot and take the lead as Jackson took the ball into the box and shot, but this was anticipated well, and Patterson made the save in the bottom left corner.
The last action of the first half came when Spencer sent a through ball and found Jordan Rhodes on the side of the box, but his cross was into the box was caught comfortably by the Sunderland ‘keeper.
Town's huge injury list was added to late in the half when Yuta Nakayama went down awkwardly on halfway. The Japan international had to be stretchered off the pitch as the half ended.
The second half saw Town’s determination to find the goal continue straight after the whistle was blown for the restart.
Our half-time substitute Brahima Diarra had a chance to take the lead with his first touch of the ball after he was crossed the ball into the box, but his effort was saved by Patterson. This was followed by a shot by Rudoni from outside the box, which went just wide.
Town then suffered a real sliding doors moment. First Etienne Camara sent Duane Holmes into the box with a through pass, which was then carried further into the Sunderland area by the midfielder. His shot hit the ‘keeper and came back out to Rhodes in the box, who sent the reebound high and over the bar.
That led to Sunderland launching a counter-attack, leading to the first goal. A move down the Town left featuring Patrick Roberts ended with former Town man Alex Pritchard sliding a low cross into the bottom corner, just past Nicholls.
The Terriers looked to equalise when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box for a foul on Rudoni, but the direct hit from Holmes went straight to Patterson and was saved comfortably.
The visitors looked to double their lead when Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo received the ball in the Town box with plenty of space around him. He sent a left footed shot towards the goal, but it curled just wide.
Eager to equalise, Diarra then carried the ball down the centre of the pitch and shot from outside the area, with his curling effort flying just wide.
There was more bad news in the injury front late on when Jackson was also taken off on a stretcher, after a tackle with substitute Ba.
Late sub Will Boyle put a very presentable header over the bar from a late Holmes corner and, with Town throwing men forward, the Black Cats scored their second in the last minute of injury time, when Diallo shot from close range and put the ball through Nicholls’ legs
Town’s Team (4-5-1)
Lee Nicholls; Brodie Spencer, Michał Helik, Yuta Nakayama (Brahima Diarra, 46’), Josh Ruffels; Duane Holmes, David Kasumu (Connor Mahoney, 70’), Etienne Camara, Jack Rudoni, Ben Jackson (Will Boyle, 89’); Jordan Rhodes (Danny Ward, 62’)
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Luke Mbete, Jon Russell
