MATTY CANN KEEP US UP
‘Keighley Cannavaro’ strikes to ease Terriers’ drop fears Huddersfield 1 Sunderland 0
MATTY PEARSON justified his ‘Keighley Cannavaro’ nickname as resurgent Huddersfield made it two wins in three games under Jon Worthington.
Terriers defender Pearson is a hugely popular figure at the John Smith’s Stadium and underlined his eye for goal with a 37th-minute winner.
The 30-year-old bundled home his third of the season – and second in three matches – to give caretaker boss Worthington another precious victory.
Ex-huddersfield midfielder Worthington took the reins after Darren Moore was recently axed with a dismal record of just three wins in 23 games.
Michael Beale’s Sunderland have play-off aspirations but they were bitterly disappointing as their three-match unbeaten run ended.
The headlines deservedly went to Pearson – endearingly nicknamed after Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro – as the Terriers took another step towards Championship safety.
Worthington’s first match in charge saw Huddersfield thump Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 in a relegation six-pointer.
They impressed again in their second outing last weekend, losing 5-3 against Southampton after giving Russell Martin’s promotion hopefuls a huge fright. Seven goals scored in just two games under Worthington’s temporary stewardship left Huddersfield fans in optimistic mood for last night’s visit of Sunderland. Yet chances were scarce for both sides during the first half.
It took until the 25th minute for either side to fashion a clear-cut opening when Terriers forward Sorba Thomas broke clear inside the left channel.
He cut the ball across the face of goal and it needed a superb interception from Black Cats captain Luke O’nien.
But the ball fell to Huddersfield midfielder David Kasumu and he blazed wildly over the crossbar from 20 yards.
Worthington’s men led in the 37th minute when a low freekick from Jack Rudoni was parried by Anthony Patterson into the path of Pearson.
The defender, who scored four times in three games under Neil Warnock when Town charged to Championship safety towards the end of last season, tucked away the rebound.
Sunderland continued to toil in vain and Dan Neil warmed Lee Nicholls’ hands with a 25yard piledriver on the stroke of half-time.
But Huddersfield had chances to extend their lead after the break as Josh Koroma saw his free-kick rebound off a post.
At the other end, the Blacks Cats fashioned a rare chance when Jobe Bellingham fired straight at Nicholls. Momentum remained with Worthington’s dogged Terriers but Sunderland threatened late on when Trai Hume’s low shot was superbly saved by Nicholls.