How Terriers have done in play-off push

IT’S already been a season of much cheer for Town fans thanks to the team’s surge into the play-offs and outside chance of automatic promotion.

Examiner Sport have looked back at the campaign so far and marked the players for their performances.

There’s plenty of good marks to go around Carlos Corberan’s squad as we enter the crucial end-of-season run-in with a place in the end of season play-offs still very much in the frame

Just to note, we have taken our expectations for each player into account as well as their actual performances, so one man’s five is not necessarily the same as another man’s seven.

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What else is there left to say? And what higher compliment is there than to say he’s the best player in his position in the division? With precious few errors to speak of, we can’t find a reason to give him less than a perfect mark: he’s done everything we could have asked of him and more . ............................................ 10 ■■

Town did not struggle nearly as much in his absence after the turn of the new year as we had feared with Tom Lees and Matty Pearson forming a formidable partnership, but don’t let that cloud your judgement. There’s been learning moments for him, but a wonderful debut season in senior football nonetheless .................................... 8 ■■

Before the Millwall game we would have said he’d been nearflawless, but we’re not going to let his errors in that game and the Bournemouth game take undue prominence in our assessment; he’s been class since the moment he arrived, especially considering he didn’t have a single minute of preseason training after arriving injured ............................................ 8 ■■

Started well with a series of crucial goals and has only gone from strength to strength as the season has gone on. One of the first names on the teamsheet now, despite massive competition ............................ 9 ■■

Played more than we thought he would in the first half of the season but has found opportunities much more limited recently - which is fine. True to form he has mixed in some excellent performances with some really erratic ones. Balance it out to an average mark ................. 5 ■■

We’ll give the right-back a bit of leeway since he missed so much time injured and has had some niggles even since returning, but there’s no getting away from the fact we’re yet to see the Spaniard at anything like his best this season ................ 4 ■■

Struggled against Nottingham Forest but has otherwise proved to be reliable when called upon – it’s just a shame for him he’s got a very good player ahead of him in the starting XI ....................................... 5 ■■

We don’t think he’s had his best season in Town colours, but his down periods shouldn’t be overstated just because he’s not lived up to his own high standards. It’s also hard to argue with seven assists, all from open play . ............................ 6 ■■

Struggled at the start of the season after taking the big step up from League One for the first time, but earned himself a deserved starting spot over the course of the unbeaten run. If we were doing it as two halves of the season we’d go with a four and a seven, but as it is we’ll split the difference . ..................................... 6 ■■

Fans heralded his second coming after his January deadline day arrival and, while he’s not played badly in any of his appearances, he’s only been handed two starts - both in the FA Cup. We’d like to see more of him over the final run-in .......... 5 ■■

Has had a lot of stick from fans unfairly, in our view - and largely for the crime of Not Being Jon Russell Or Lewis O’Brien. For us, it’s like this: Colwill is the only player in the squad who is both younger and played more games and, when called upon, High has largely not looked at all out of place and has had perhaps two bad games. He’s played more good balls to help create goals than some might realise, too ................................................... 6 ■■

A victim both of his own high standards and a couple of injury issues that have knocked him off his stride, the captain has had good spells and bad spells this campaign. We’ll balance those out into an average mark ......................................... 5 ■■

Only ever seems to have a bad game in matches where the whole side has struggled – but more than balances that out by just as often playing superbly even when the rest of the team has been poor. We have very high expectations of O’Brien, yet he manages to meet and exceed them. He’s just an excellent footballer, isn’t he? ............................... 9 ■■

The surprise package of the second half of the season. He’s still raw, but you’d expect that of a 21-yearold whose prior senior experience amounts to 26 appearances for League One Accrington last season. Very promising .............................. 7 ■■

Rarely absolutely stellar, but has chipped in with six vital goals in all competitions and played in a variety of positions, doing well wherever he’s been asked to play. You need players like Holmes in a good Championship squad ................... 6 ■■

The winger himself would tell you he wasn’t at his best over the first half of the season and Carlos Corberan has barely started him over the past couple of months despite some more promising displays since the turn of the new year. Could still have a big part to play in the final push, but as it stands we can