Defeat on the road for the Terriers
- Rotherham United 2-1 Huddersfield Town
- Danny Ward scored Town’s goal
- Goals in each half prove to be the difference
Town were beaten 2-1 by Rotherham United in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Conor Washington and Georgie Kelly meant that Rotherham United took all three points in the despite a goal from Danny Ward.
Town started off on the front foot after a Rotherham United mistake saw Jordan Rhodes intercept and collect the ball with plenty of space in the middle of the pitch. The striker sent the ball wide to Sorba Thomas, who took the ball down the left side and crossed to find the head of Ward, but it was defended well and headed out for a Town corner, which found Rhodes but landed safely in the gloves of Viktor Johansson.
This was followed by a free kick for Town in the fifth minute after Duane Holmes was brought down in the attacking half. Thomas’ cross found Rhodes, but his shot went across the face of goal and out wide for a goal kick to Rotherham.
The Millers had their first of three chances withing ten minutes to take the lead after a through ball was played to Conor Washington after he made the run behind Tom Lees with his shot deflected, and Ben Jackson carried the ball to safety before being fouled and winning a free kick in the defensive half.
Then, Rotherham’s defender Richard Wood followed this with a shot on target after the home side were awarded a free kick. The set piece found Wood’s head but was aimed straight at Lee Nicholls and was held to safety.
The third chance for the home side to take the lead came in the 20th minute as Ben Wiles had control of the ball in the Town box and crossed the ball for it to deflect off Michał Helik for a corner, but it was saved comfortably by the Town 'keeper.
Town got back into the game as Thomas received the ball in space and sent his cross into the box to find Rhodes, but the ball finished just behind the striker and it was cleared back to Thomas who took a shot from range which went straight at the ‘keeper.
Rotherham United’s first goal of the game came in the 25th minute after a through ball by Daniel Barlaser landed at the feet of Washington, who struck the ball nicely into the top right corner.
However, this scoreline didn’t last long as Town equalised in the 29th minute from a corner taken by Thomas. The set piece was played to Ward at the back of the box after he lost his marker, keeping his strike low and into the back of the net with his left foot.
The next action seen in the game was another chance for Ward following a long ball from Nicholls was pinpointed to Thomas, who had the time and space to cross the ball towards the back post, but the ball just missed the forward.
Just before half-time, Kasumu carried the ball into the box after receiving it from Holmes, and crossed intending to find Rhodes but the ball landed just behind him.
The second half started the same as the first one with Town pushing to go in front, with Ben Jackson taking the ball down the left side before cutting into the middle to take a shot from range which hit the target but was saved by Johansson – Rhodes found the back of the net with the rebound but the was ruled offside by the officials.
There was a chance for Town to equalise in the 59th minute as Holmes received the ball in the centre of the box but his shot was well saved.
Rotherham United’s second goal came when substitute Georgie Kelly got himself into space in the box and scored from close range following a cross from the edge of the box, with Richard Wood heading back across goal to assist.
The last action of the game came as Town substitute Jack Rudoni controlled the ball on his chest before he was brought down in the box, but the referee said no to the penalty shout and the game was played out for a 2-1 away loss.
Town’s Line-Up (3-4-1-2)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees (c), Michał Helik, Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu (Charles Ondo, 84'), Etienne Camara, Ben Jackson (Aaron Rowe, 67'); Duane Holmes (Jack Rudoni, 67'); Jordan Rhodes, Danny Ward (Connor Mahoney, 67')
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Ollie Turton, Brodie Spencer
Town Scorer
Danny Ward (29’)
