West Yorkshire derby ends in draw with Helik on the scoresheet as Hogg sent from the field for Huddersfield Town
- Huddersfield Town 1-1 Leeds United
- Michał Helik scores in first half injury time
- Captain Jonathan Hogg sent off for two bookings
Unwavering spirit was the overwhelming senitment from the Terriers in today's West Yorkshire derby, with a fantastic attacking performance with 11 men in the first half underlined by an equally important defensive showing with 10 in the second.
Never a game that would take long to warm, both sides flew from the blocks at the John Smith’s Stadium, with all four sides of there ground at fever pitch from the off. Patrick Bamford was the first to enjoy a sight at goal, with the ball falling to him at point blank range inside the penalty box - side footing toward the net, Lee Nicholls reacted brilliantly to keep the Terriers level.
Reacting instantaneously, Town returned pressure and fire, enjoying the better possession and territory in the next exchanges. Sparked further into life by a brilliant drive at goal from distant by Jack Rudoni, it required a full stretch dive from Meslier to deny him, as the Leeds goalkeeper conceded a corner. Connecting with the set play with a clever flick, Rudoni almost scored again, but Meslier was able to palm it away at his near post.
On the break, Leeds would turn to Summerville for an outlet, but he wasn’t able to get the better of Spencer who stuck with his man on every run. Seemingly giving Bamford another chance to tap in soon after, he saw his effort again saved by Nicholls; but the effort wouldn’t have counted either way, with Gnoto flagged offside in the build up.
Going back on the attack, Delano Burgzorg showed the intent of the Town side by giving Junior Firpo the run around, knocking the ball past him before beating him again for pace to gather and continue his drive forward. Soon forced into a change with Nakayama injured, Michał Helik made his return for the Terriers, filing back into defence as Spencer shuffled over the left back and Pearson filled in on the right.
Soon bubbling on the field as well as off it, the referee wasn’t shy with his bookings, with the Terriers more often on the wrong end of those decisions than the away side. On one occasion the call did go in Town’s favour, Jack Rudoni was felled on the far left touchline, with Sorba Thomas taking control of the dead ball. Met by Danny Ward, his downward effort was only just kept at bay by Meslier, who’s push back into play fell kindly for Helik, who extend his run at top scorer this season as he crashed home from close range!
A richly deserved lead, Town were showing the playing principles that André Breitenreiter has discussed since joining the Club, pressing aggressively, looking to take players on and wanting to play an attractive brand of attacking football, all while remaining defensively solid at the other end of the field. Going into nine minutes of added time following the goal in the opening seconds of injury time, the Terriers saw captain Jonathan Hogg sent from the field for a second yellow card. Remaining defensively resolute until the whistle was blown whilst still looking to get forward, the one nil lead remained in tact at half-time.
Making a change in the break with Alex Matos introduced in place of Danny Ward, the Terriers didn’t sit back as may have been expected with ten men, remaining committed to their task of breaking with pace and pressing high with plenty of energy. Forcing the visitors into more hurried challenges and remaining dangerous from set plays, Pearson went close with almost an hour gone direct from a corner, just header over following another wonderful Thomas delivery.
Unhappy with how they were performing, Leeds made a triple change on the hour, introducing Piroe and James in attack, with Roberts coming on at full back. Winning more possession than when they were facing 11, it took five minutes for the substitutes to make their mark on the game, with Roberts squaring for Bamford to score into a virtually open goal with Nicholls left stranded after guarding his near post.
Having performed excellently despite being under the weather in the week, Brodie Spencer followed up a first half of marking Summerville with a second facing off against Dan James, tracking back excellently moments before being substituted to slide in and win the ball back in one fluid moment with the Welshman unable to beat him for pace. Leaving the field alongside Delano Burgzorg, the pair were replaced by the returning Jaheim Headley and Josh Koroma, who took his place leading the Town line.
Stretched in open play the longer the contest went on, Town’s spirit was never under question in either defence or attack. Racing forward when possible and putting men behind the ball when needed, the commitment was recognised and celebrated by the home support, who stuck with their side all afternoon. An effort typified by Tom Lees, the veteran defender was still making last ditch challenges well into the dying moments, with his performance and leadership at the back in the absence of Hogg a real asset.
A richly deserved point, the reaction from the supporters at full-time told its own story after their Terriers left it all on the field at the John Smith’s Stadium.
TOWN’S TEAM (4-1-4-1)
Lee Nicholls; Brodie Spencer (Jaheim Headley 72'), Matty Pearson, Tom Lees, Yuta Nakayama (Michał Helik 26'); Jonathan Hogg (C); Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu, Jack Rudoni, Delano Burgzorg (Josh Koroma 72'); Danny Ward (Alex Matos 46')
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
Chris Maxwell; Bojan Radulovic, Brahima Diarra, Tom Edwards, Ben Wiles
TOWN GOAL
Michał Helik 45+1'
TOWN CARDS
Jonathan Hogg 20', 45+5' (RED), David Kasumu 38', Matty Pearson 39', Jaheim Headley 90_4'
GATE
22,351 (2,270)
We welcome West Bromwich Albion to the John Smith’s Stadium at noon on Sunday 10 March 2024, and you can CLICK HERE to join us in HD1 to get behind André and the lads!
