THE VERDICT: TOWN 0 BARNSLEY 1 Frustration as Town still wait to get over the line
HARD-WORKING Huddersfield Town suffered a narrow but deserved defeat to Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, whose victory strengthens their playoff credentials but dents the Terriers’ hopes of confirming safety from relegation nice and early.
That Derby and Rotherham both lost in this round of midweek fixtures means Town maintain their gap to the drop zone and their chances of relegation remains very remote, and in truth this result is unlikely to matter.
Still, it’s frustrating not to be able to breathe that big definitive sigh of relief just yet, especially as the goal the Terriers conceded could have been avoided several times over.
Carlos Corberan had to choose between sticking with the 4-3-3 that earned his side victory or switching back to the 3-5-2 system that his players had also got used to in recent weeks.
Perhaps drawing inspiration from Coventry City’s similar approach in their 2-0 win over the Tykes on Sunday but largely because of the absences of both Harry Toffolo and Pipa, Corberan decided on the latter option.
Centre-back Rarmani Edmonds-Green came into the side to make up a back three with Richard Keogh and Naby
Sarr, while both Yaya Sanogo and Josh Koroma made returns from injury to play in the front two, with Duane Holmes and Aaron Rowe starting as wing-backs.
Barnsley had the better chances of a competitive first half as they piled men forward both on and off the ball looking for the opening goal.
Their high, aggressive pressing kept the Town back three under constant pressure but to their credit they largely stood up to it – helped by the presence of Sanogo up front, who offered the centre-backs a big target to aim for if all else failed.
There were a couple of nervy moments, though, one of which came as Sarr assumed his sliced clearance would roll for a corner only for Cauley Woodrow to keep it in play. Thankfully, the defender got back in time to put him off his shot, which flew well wide of the far post from a narrow angle.
Barnsley skipper Alex Mowatt put a free-kick narrowly wide from 25 yards after a Jonathan Hogg foul, and Ryan Schofield had to be on his guard to deal with a cross from the left after Edmonds-Green lost possession just outside the Town box.
The best chance of the first
Collins, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Palmer, Mowatt, Styles, Frieser, Woodrow, Morris. Subs: Walton, Jordan Williams, Dike, Chaplin, Sibbick, Oduor, Halme, Adeboyejo, Moon.
half came and went with Town left unscathed as Carlton Morris stormed up the left wing and squared for Mowatt, but he curled his shot badly off target.
Barnsley’s pressure continued soon after the break with Carlton Morris testing Schofield with a low header that needed turning around the near post, and from there the game turned into a series of counter-attacks from both teams as each side looked to go over the top of a crowded midfield.
It was from such end-to-end action that Barnsley took the lead midway through the second half.
Town had just launched a promising counter-attack from a