Toffolo is cult above
THEY might have been bubble-wrapped, but Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield side burst free to sound a Championship play-off warning.
There’s definitely no stopping left wingback Harry Toffolo, who is in the goalscoring form of his life – a brilliant 33rd-minute virtuoso strike his fifth in seven games.
And Danny Ward’s first goal since March 11 – not that he knew too much about it – put the Terriers on easy street against Bristol City, who arrived on the back of an unbeaten five-game run.
For Huddersfield – who had already bagged a play-off slot and claimed third place – it’s all about their semi-final with Luton now.
Corberan is aiming to emulate David Wagner’s feat of taking the club into the Premier League five years ago.
He admitted: “I didn’t mind who were going to be our opponents because we know the games will be very tough. Luton are very competitive. If you analyse our two games against them this season, you can see how demanding they will be.
“We have grown in the season and finished third.
“Our first target was to stay in the Championship.
“Then I was thinking we have a great group of players who can improve.”
With the play-offs in mind, Corberan either left out some of his big guns altogether or sat them on the bench, including the Championship’s keeper of the season Lee Nicholls.
Cult hero Toffolo’s contract is up this summer and he left to a standing ovation after 53 minutes with Coberan again thinking of the play-offs.
Memories of his goal though will live on, accepting a pass from Ward and weaving his way past a couple of challenges in the box to fire past Daniel Bentley.
Ward’s effort just before the break was less spectacular, a low cross from Pipa cannoning off Robbie Cundy onto Ward and over the line.
Some of the City fans arrived dressed for the beach – the players were already on it, creating very little.
Ward could have made it worse for them, cutting into the penalty area and forcing Bentley into a sharp save.
Robins boss Nigel Pearson said: “Huddersfield are as good as anyone in this league, including the top two, so I’m not going to waste energy bemoaning how we have done today.” HUDDERSFIELD: Blackman 7; Turton 7, Hogg 6 (Lees 46, 6), Sarr 7; Russell 8; Pipa 7, Eiting 6, Holmes 7, Toffolo 7 (Colwill 53, 6); Sinani 7 (Anjorin 58, 7), Ward 7. Subs not used: Nicholls, Rhodes, Koroma, Ruffels. BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 7; Cundy 6 (Idehen 74, 6), Klose 6 (King 77), Atkinson 6; Scott 6, James 7, Massengo 6 (Tanner 53, 6), Dasilva 6; Weimann 6; Martin 6, Semenyo 7. Subs not used: O’leary, Wells, Bell, Conway. MAN OF THE MATCH: Jon Russell. Tidy and composed in guarding the back three and creative when moving forward. REFEREE: David Webb 7.