John Swift penalty the difference as Town lose narrow game at the Hawthorns
- West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Huddersfield Town
- John Swift penalty decides the game
- Tom Lees and David Kasumu miss our best chances
A tight game of few big chances went against Neil Warnock’s Town side at the Hawthorns, with a first-half penalty from midfielder John Swift securing all three points for West Bromwich Albion.
Tom Lees and David Kasumu sent our best chances off target either side of half time as the Terriers couldn’t get on the score-sheet again, with the hosts scoring their big chance.
The Baggies dominated the ball throughout the opening 45 minutes, but Town protected Tomáš Vaclík’s goal quite well in general. The Czech Republic international had to spring from his line a few times to claim through passes, whilst centre backs Helik and Lees defended the area with experience and quality. West Brom were restricted to shots from range, with Vaclík saving one from Erik Pieters and midfielder Okay Yokoslu firing wide.
It was actually Town who had the game’s first presentable chance through Lees, from a corner Josh Koroma won on our right in the 16th minute. Ben Jackson’s quality delivery found the experienced centre half, who was disappointed to see his headed effort fly over Josh Griffiths’ crossbar.
Unfortunately, the one exception to our resolute defensive half led to the only goal on the half hour. Matty Pearson, playing once again at right back, was caught on the wrong side of overlapping left back Conor Townsend as he latched onto Jed Wallace’s flicked pass and brought him down, allowing former Reading man John Swift to beat our goalkeeper from 12 yards.
At the same time, Town struggled to keep the ball and create from open play, with Griffiths not having a shot on target to deal with before the interval.
The Baggies continued on the front foot early in the second half, winning a succession of corners, but it was the men in pink who created another big chance in the 52nd minute. Lees won a 50-50 challenge on halfway before allowing Waghorn to take over, who played Kasumu into space with a great left-footed pass. Unfortunately, when David took the shot on with his left foot as he entered the area, he skewed it well wide of the near post.
Carlos Corberán’s side continued to enjoy possession as the half progressed, with striker Daryl Dike being denied twice by Helik and sub Edmonds-Green, before Town enjoyed more territory in the final moments as they chased the game and introduced more forward players. However, our best effort was an ambitious overhead kick attempted by Helik that went well wide.
Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Tomáš Vaclík; Matty Pearson (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 63’), Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Josh Ruffels; Jonathan Hogg (c), David Kasumu (Brahima Diarra, 82’); Josh Koroma, Jack Rudoni, Ben Jackson (Joseph Hungbo, 89’); Martyn Waghorn (Jordan Rhodes, 82’)
Unused substitutes
Nicholas Bilokapic; Etienne Camara, Tyreece Simpson
