Pearson, Koroma and Thomas hand Jon Worthington win as Huddersfield Town Caretaker Manager
- Huddersfield Town 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Jon Worthington wins as Caretaker Manager
- Second half goals from Matty Pearson, Josh Koroma (2) and Sorba Thomas
An electric second half performance from the Terriers saw Sheffield Wednesday blown away by four goals without reply as Pearson, Koroma (2) and Thomas handed Jon Worthington a famous win as Caretaker Manager.
With the derby atmosphere at their backs, both sides flew into the opening exchanges. Pressing aggressively from the off, there was an urgency about the Terriers from minute one, looking for earlier and more probing balls forward whenever possible, taking more risks in possession.
A full blooded game underlined by a rough challenge on Rhys Healey by Kristian Pedersen with just over five minutes gone, it wasn’t until the 10 minute mark that either side worked a forward clean through into the box. Ugbo on this occasion for the visitors, his effort was brilliantly knocked back over his own crossbar by Lees against his old side, with the defender doing well as he ran back toward his own goal.
Almost heading themselves into the lead from the set play, Ihiekwe looked to have looped the ball into the top corner with Nicholls beaten, but Rhys Healey did brilliantly to read the flight of the effort and head it back from where it came before it could cross the line.
Having to settle for half chances from set plays and snapshots from outside the box, Radulovic’s link-up play did create opportunities for the attacking players around him, but nothing clear cut. With around 20 minutes gone, it was Town who were forced into the first change, with Rhys Healey going to his haunches off the ball feeling his groin. Replaced by Ben Wiles, it wasn’t the home debut the January signing will have wanted.
Getting a better grip of the half with 30 minutes on the clock, Town begun to hold the ball better in the final third - but with Wednesday getting plenty of bodies behind the ball, breaking down the South Yorkshire side wasn’t proving easy. Almost unlocked by Wiles, the midfielder performed an excellent first time touch and turn to create space before clipping a ball through for Thomas to latch onto behind the defence. Trying to squeeze one in at the near post, Beadle made himself big to block and deny him.
A similar chances then unfolded a few minutes later, with Wiles doing well to squeeze a pass to Hogg with three men surrounding him, before the skipper chipped an inch-perfect ball through for Thomas to chase onto. Flying off his line, Thomas was able to pass around Beadle to the feet of Radulovic who had his back to goal. Spinning to shoot off his left, the defence retreated well enough to block the effort, with their goalkeeper helpless after coming from his line.
Despite two minutes extra signified by the fourth official, there was no play of note before the teams took themselves down the tunnel for half-time.
Beginning the second half with the same intensity, no changes for either side during the break allowed the contest to continue in the same fashion it had prior to half-time. Still looking to cause problems with fast transitions, an early cross from Thomas was spilled by Beadle after pressure from Redulovic, with the goalkeeper claiming at the second attempt.
Making a typically sturdy challenge out wide, Spencer found himself in the book before Wednesday took their turn to foul, with Michale Ihiekwe repelling the advances of Bojan Radulovic under a high ball by putting a hand squarely in his face. Not booked for the contact, the Town forward was able to continue after treatment, and the resulting free-kick was cleared with little fuss.
Looking to make things happen in the final third, Koroma and Thomas combined to almost feed Radulovic in the final third, with our number 10 finding his opposite winger with a great ball cross field, before the Welshman left Pedersen for dead out side before crossing. Battling with the defender to make contact, Radulovic had to settle for a corner that the defence dealt with well despite Koroma following up with a shot of his own from the edge of the box.
Not recovering from the earlier slap in the face, Radulovic then made way for Brahima Diarra after again going to ground holding his head. Making an adjustment, Town then shifted Josh Koroma central, with Diarra operating from the left.
Exploding into life, Matty Pearson headed home from a Sorba Thomas corner to give Town the lead, before Josh Koroma raced clear a minute later to make it two after a wonderful ball through from Ben Wiles. Riding high on the back of an incredible home atmosphere as a result, three and four then followed, with Sorba Thomas getting in on the act before Koroma completed his brace, showing exactly what Jon Worthington meant by taking the shackles off his side going forward.
Making one change at the back as home debutant Balker was replaced by Ben Jackson, the Terriers saw the rest of the game out, sealing an important win on the back of an impressive performance after the break.
TOWN’S TEAM (4-2-3-1)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Radinio Balker (Ben Jackson 82'), Tom Lees, Brodie Spencer; Jonathan Hogg (C), Alex Matos; Sorba Thomas, Rhys Healey (Ben Wiles 24'), Josh Koroma; Bojan Radulovic (Brahima Diarra 58')
UNUSED SUBSTITUES
Giosue Bellagambi; Tom Edwards, Pat Jones, Luke Daley, Tom Iorpenda, Conor Falls
TOWN GOALS
Matty Pearson 68', Josh Koroma 70', 80', Sorba Thomas 77'
TOWN BOOKINGS
Radinio Balker 18', Brodie Spencer 46', Alex Matos 79'
GATE
21,067 (2,270)
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