THE VERDICT: COVENTRY 1 TOWN 2 Terriers are winning and now that’s all that matters
TOWN WEREN’T AT THEIR BEST IN VICTORY OVER COVENTRY, BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE SEASON RESULTS ARE THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING
ON the one hand, Huddersfield Town have hardly been at their brilliant best over the past couple of games.
On the other...well, they have still won them both.
And at this stage of the season, with the play-offs now a certainty, we’d definitely take that two or three more times once the Terriers get the other side of their final-day encounter against Bristol City on Saturday.
In truth, Town struggled to get out of their own half for much of the first 45 minutes against Coventry and they rode their luck on more than one occasion, with the home side typically wasteful in front of goal despite creating the better of the chances.
But that magic man Harry Toffolo scored a fourth goal in six games to set up a more open second half, cutting inside to curl a quite brilliant right-footed finish in at the far post.
Then it was over to Town to squander the best of their chances. Duane Holmes teed one up nicely for Jordan Rhodes after a neat interchange with Pipa, but the striker was somehow unable to turn the ball towards goal.
Both players were soon replaced with Tino Anjorin and Danny Ward coming on in their place, with Anjorin finally producing a performance that delivered on the promise his signing brought in January.
Where the Chelsea loanee’s performances had been fairly anonymous at best, here he was undeniably electric on the ball, lifting Town to a new level.
Anjorin’s through ball for Danny Ward should have been finished off after the slightly rusty-looking striker hit the ball at keeper Ben Wilson on his return from injury, and Anjorin was heavily involved again in trying to fashion a chance for Ward.
Lewis O’Brien picked up the loose ball and was immediately felled by Wilson, and cool as you like Anjorion stepped up to
Gyokeres (90)
Toffolo (45), Anjorin (79, pen)
60% 40%
7
3
22
10
Tony Harrington
23,828
Kane None
SATURDAY BRISTOL C (H) LEAGUE 12.30PM
Wilson, Rose, McFadzean, Hyam, Kane (Eccles, 70), Hamer (Jones, 77), Allen, Bidwell, O’Hare, Waghorn (Tavares, 70), Gyokeres. Subs: Moore, Clarke-Salter, Maatsen, Shipley.
convert from the spot to secure the win.
Just like against Barnsley last week, a late consolation goal by the opposition – this time converted by Viktor Gyokeres from a cutback from the byline – did nothing to spoil Town’s day.
Victories elsewhere for Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth mean automatic promotion is a virtual impossibility for Town now thanks to their rivals’ much-superior goal difference and the fact the two play each other tomorrow night.