4 THE VERDICT: TOWN 4 CHARLTON 0 MAD IT Town Kar’s double beats old owners
TOWN RATED STRIKER GRANT HITS TWO AGAINST FORMER CLUB AS TERRIERS SECURE POINTS IN RELEGATION SCRAP
KARLAN Grant bagged a cracking double as Huddersfield Town crushed Charlton Athletic.
In a cracking show which also included goals for substitute Steve Mounie and a sizzler from Juninho Bacuna, Town restored a five-point gap between themselves and the relegation placings, much to the delight of their supporters in a crowd of 21,539 (825 away fans).
The victory – a fourth straight win for Town over a demoralised-looking Charlton – was the perfect tonic for the upcoming derby trip to face Leeds United at Elland Road.
Cowley made just one change, with Trevoh Chalobah stepping in for the injured Jonathan Hogg (Achilles and knee).
There was a welcome return on the bench for German frontman Collin Quaner following hip surgery, while Leicester City loan man Andy King missed out because of a hamstring injury.
Elias Kachunga also returned on the bench after being dropped from the matchday 18 for the 2-1 midweek win over Bristol City.
Charlton defender Tom Lockyer started a two-match ban after picking up his 10th booking of the season in the previous defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Town, looking for back-to-back league wins for only the third time this season, were 3/4 favourites with Charlton at 4/1, and Town made the first inroads, with Harry Toffolo seeing a deflected shot bounce awkwardly in front of keeper Dillion Phillips.
Then Chalobah, Richard Stearman, Chris Willock and Karlan Grant, against his old club, caused problems for the visitors in a swirling wind.
Toffolo was also finding useful space, but Charlton showed they were not to be ignored on the break, with an 11th-minute shot which from Erhun Oztumer which Jonas Lossl held smartly to his left.
It was nip and tuck after that until Town took the lead on 25
Phillips, Matthews, Pearce, Oshilaja, Doughty Cullen, Lapslie (Hemed, 82), McGeady (Bonne, 61), Oztumer (Williams, 45), Taylor, Green. Subs: Purrington, Williams, Amos, Smith, Davis.
minutes – Grant pouncing for his 15th of the season after George Lapslie and Deji Oshilaja gave him chance to pinch the ball in the box.
Town took control after that, O’Brien pulling the strings as Charlton were restricted severely in their build-ups.
Cowley’s men were unlucky not to go further ahead as Phillips made a fingertip save to deny Smith Rowe and Grant hitting a post from a very acute angle.
Town should have gone two