A draw in the final game before the break.
- Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town
- Goalless draw at Hillsborough in Yorkshire derby
- Kian Harratt has a late strike disallowed for a foul
Town enter the October international break on back of a third draw in four games, with a Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday ending goalless.
The tie against the Owls, who sacked their manager in midweek and were under the caretaker charge of Neil Thompson, was the final game before an important two weeks on the training pitches for Darren Moore and his coaches.
The game had few genuine chances, with Josh Koroma having the first-half’s best chance before Callum Paterson volleyed wide for the hosts at the other end.
However, the game’s big moment was a late goal for substitute Kian Harratt that was ruled out for an apparent foul on the home goalkeeper.
Moore made three changes for his return to South Yorkshire, one of which saw skipper Jonathan Hogg return following a one game absence with a calf injury. He joined Tom Edwards and Josh Koroma back in the side, with Sorba Thomas moving infield to play behind our front two.
With nearly 3,000 Town fans behind them, the men in acid lime had to defend well in the early stages as Wednesday utilised a physical front two of Lee Gregory and Michael Smith at every opportunity, with one fourth minute knockdown leading to a half chance for George Byers to shoot from outside the box.
As well as being a threat from corners, Wednesday also had a long throw at their disposal through Will Vaulks. Lee Nicholls combatted that by being positive, twice coming through a crowded box to punch the ball clear early on.
Town’s first chance came in the 13th minute when opposite goalkeeper Cameron Dawson had less success with a punch, only succeeding in pushing the ball down to Koroma around 25 yards out. He tried to lob the ball into the vacant net with a first-time effort but sent his effort bouncing just wide of the post.
The Terriers enjoyed a lot of territorial pressure thereafter, winning several free kicks around the edge of the home penalty area. Unfortunately, they were defended by the Owls, with a direct Jack Rudoni effort hitting the top of the ball and a couple of headers being blocked wide.
Delano Burgzorg’s best moment of the half came around the 20-minute mark when he showed good feet to keep the ball with defenders around him before making a run into the box to collect the next pass. He pulled the ball back to Koroma, who span neatly only to see his left footed shot blocked.
Rudoni made two very positive dribbles through the centre of the pitch in the first half, taking opponents out of the game, and from one he found Thomas with a pass across the face of the box. Unfortunately, Sorba got his shot from 20 yards out all wrong, sending a tame effort comfortably wide of target.
Wednesday came back into the game as the half ended and Nicholls will have head his heart in his mouth three minutes before the interval when Gregory charged his attempted clearance down, but thankfully the ball bounced wide for a goal kick.
The half’s final chance fell Town’s way when a foul on Yuta Nakayama on the left gave Thomas the chance to deliver. His cross to the back post was exceptional, but Helik could only hook the ball over at full stretch.
The second half mirrored the first in many ways, with only half chances at either end.
Burgzorg soon went down under a challenge from a centre back when approaching a bouncing ball on the edge of Wednesday’s area, but no free kick was awarded, then at the other end a Will Vaulks free kick bounced in the six-yard box without getting a touch.
Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest chance of the game fell to Callum Paterson in the 64th minute when centre back Bernard nodded down a corner into the area, but the former Cardiff City volleyed powerfully wide on the turn.
Helik dragged a speculative shot wide before Thomas uncharacteristically got two attempted crosses wrong as the Terriers broke effectively down the right flank.
In the end, the last meaningful action of the game was probably the biggest talking point. Substitute Brahima Diarra was brought down on the right after a smart turn, giving Thomas the chance to delivery another free kick. The delivery hit a defender and looped into the air and when goalkeeper Dawson and Tom Lees challenged, the ‘keeper’s punch fell to Kian Harratt – who volleyed into the net. Unfortunately, referee Donohue had already whistled for a foul on the custodian that looked soft.
Town’s team (3-4-1-2)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Josh Ruffels (Tom Lees, 62’); Tom Edwards (Ben Wiles, 67’), Jonathan Hogg, Jack Rudoni, Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas; Delano Burgzorg (Brahima Diarra, 83’), Josh Koroma (Kian Harratt, 67’)
Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jaheim Headley, Kyle Hudlin, Ben Jackson
Town booking
Jonathan Hogg (90+6’)
Gate
26,025
Town fans
2,971
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