THE VERDICT: TOWN 2 BARNSLEY 1 Terriers Barn storm into the play-offs!
TOWN RATED DOUBLE EITHER SIDE OF FIRST HALF SEND TOWN INTO DREAMLAND WITH PLAY-OFF SPOT NOW IN BAG
Won’t have too many quieter games than this. Always looked alert when called upon to restart moves with the ball ........ 7
HUDDERSFIELD Town guaranteed themselves a Championship play-off spot with two games to spare thanks to a commanding 2-1 win over Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
Goals from Jordan Rhodes and Harry Toffolo book-ended the first half as Town moved on to 76 points and within one of secondplaced Bournemouth, albeit having played three games more.
These two sides may yet be two divisions apart next season.
Barnsley kept their side of the bargain up, with this defeat signalling the end of their current stay in the Championship. As for Town, they are now guaranteed their ticket in the end-of-season lottery and will now be determined to finish either third or fourth to ensure of a home game in the second leg of that play-off semi-final.
Boss Carlos Corberan made two changes from the side which impressively saw off Middlesbrough last time out. Pipa dropped down to the bench whilst Sorba Thomas, after sustaining a knee injury at the Riverside Stadium, missed out altogether.
Huddersfield picked up where they left off after their excursions on Teeside just four days previously.
Less than three minutes were on the clock when a bright, flowing move ended with Duane Holmes trying his luck from distance. His initial effort looked goal-bound but it deflected over. Ultimately though, it would lead to the opening goal of the night.
From the resulting corner Town took the lead, albeit they had to wait a while for confirmation.
The set-piece wasn’t dealt with by Barnsley and after what looked the slightest of glances by Tom Lees, it eventually found its way to Rhodes and he gleefully nodded in from just a couple of yards out.
The referee James Linington initially ruled it out after one of his linesmen raised his flag. But after lengthy consultation the goal was eventually given, much to the relief of the Terriers’ fans.
Town were then looking to build on it but Barnsley were staying solid defensively. After a couple of tight offside decisions against them, the hosts went
Rhodes (4) Toffolo45
51%
10
2
Styles (90)
49%
3
7
Kitching, Palmer, Wolfe
Darren England
N/A
None
APRIL 30 COVENTRY (A) LEAGUE 3PM
close to a second when Harry Toffolo’s effort from distance was tipped wide by visiting goalkeeper Jack Walton.
But Toffolo didn’t have to wait long until he could celebrate finding the back of the net.
Some neat build-up play from Holmes and Daniel Sinani ended with the latter floating a precise ball to Toffolo who hit it on the volley and crisply finished beyond Walton. That was his third goal in five games, practically prolific for a defender.
Barnsley came into more after the restart but they were limited to long-range efforts or pot-shots that flew well wide of goal.