A win and another clean sheet against high-flying Millwall
- Huddersfield Town 1-0 Millwall
- Yuta Nakayama scored the only goal of the game
- Intensity secured Town all three points!
Huddersfield Town earned all three points in a great performance against Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship.
A first-half goal from Yuta Nakayama secured the three points for Town against Millwall and relentless effort meant we never looked like losing.
The Terriers dominated the first half and had multiple chances.
Attacking from the start, Town had a flurry of chances within the first 10 minutes of the game. Man of the Match David Kasumu created the first chance after he found Sorba Thomas on the on the right side, who then sent a low cross into the box and found the feet of Jack Rudoni - but his shot was blocked.
Town’s second chance began with our skipper Tom Lees in the back line who sent Thomas down the right side and sent the cross into the box, but it went across the face of goal in front of the Town shirts that were running into the box.
The Town goal came in the ninth minute from outside the box as Nakayama’s cross into the area found the back of the net after the ball dipped before the bar and into the top right corner!
Shortly after the goal, the Terriers continued to push forward and good play between Ollie Turton and Thomas kept possession and set forward to attack. Thomas sent the ball to Rudoni just outside the box in the centre of the pitch, but his shot was just high over the bar.
Etienne Camara had his chance on goal as the ball landed at his feet following a corner ball, but his shot from just outside the box went straight at Millwall ‘keeper George Long, who pushed it away.
One of many corners for Town lead to Rudoni’s shot from close range, which was blocked by Danny McNamara.
Former Town player Scott Malone then fouled Thomas on the wide edge of the box. The set-piece routine worked the ball short to early substitute Duane Holmes, who got two efforts from range - the second being palmed away by Long.
Millwall's first chance didn't come until the end of the first-half following a free kick in the Town half, but this was gathered comfortably by Lee Nicholls.
A great chance for Town came in the 38th minute as Holmes carried the ball from the back down the left side of the pitch and sent a lovely cross to find Thomas in the box by the back post, but his header hit the woodwork and bounced back to his feet. Thomas worked hard to not lose the ball and got the ball to Kasumu, but his chance was blocked.
Andreas Voglsammer had the first shot for the Lions from outside the box following a counter-attack opportunity, but the ball curled straight to Nicholls and the danger was averted.
The Terriers started the second half the same as the first and kept possession while continuing to look for the attacking opportunities.
Although Millwall had a shot blocked excellently by David Kasumu on the edge of the Town, which came off substitute Tyler Burey and out for a Town goal kick, this sparked another Holmes burst and he sent a brilliant ball to Danny Ward, who struck it first time but just put it wide of the net as the Terriers pushed to double their lead.
The next chance for Town came as Rudoni received the ball on the left side, just outside the box, but his shot went just high and over the bar – the 21-year-old looked determined to find the back of the net!
Rudoni once again carried the ball into the box and played it short to substitute Jordan Rhodes, whose shot was put just over the bar an out for a corner. That led to a shot from Kasumu from the right side being saved by Long.
Millwall looked for an equaliser by going longer and pushing giant centre back Jake Cooper up front. Sub Tyler Burey's close-range shot was about to go over the line before Nicholls saved it and kept Town in front, whilst another former Town man - Benik Afobe - had to be marshalled wide by Helik as the Terriers saw out the win.
After eight minutes of added time, Town leave with all three points!
Town’s Team (4-5-1)
Lee Nicholls; Ollie Turton (Duane Holmes, 32’), Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu (Will Boyle, 88’), Etienne Camara, Jack Rudoni, Ben Jackson; Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 67’)
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Jon Russell, Josh Ruffels, Brahima Diarra
Goal Scorer
Yuta Nakayama (9’)
