Bubbling Wells thrills Robins
STRIKER Nahki Wells set up the first four goals and was unplayable as Huddersfield showed the kind of form that made them early season play-off contenders.
They’ve struggled in recent weeks but were back to their best yesterday after goals from Keith Southern, Danny Ward, Adam Hammill, Adam Clayton and Sean Scannell saw Barnsley routed.
Even so, boss Mark Robins Robins said his side were exciting without being spectacular.
“We got the confidence from the first goal, then we got a second and then we controlled the game,” said Robins.
“There were some great performances out there and Nahki Wells was phenomenal. He worked hard and did everything apart from score.
“Keith Southern showed great maturity and experience and there were others out there too.We were exciting going forward without being spectacular.
“Barnsley started brighter than us and could have taken the lead. They’re a decent team when they perform and have picked up some scalps this season, like they have in every season.”
Barnsley boss Danny Wilson – whose side have only won one away game in over a year – kept his players locked in the dressing room for almost an hour afterwards.
He said:“We started great and for half an hour we were excellent. We didn’t take our chances and they got a scrappy goal and it knocked the stuffing out of us. You are going to have a bad day sometimes and it was a bad day for us. It should have no reflection on next week and we’ll have to knuckle down.”
Both teams had good chances early on, Danny Ward going close for the hosts after eight minutes but his shot was well saved by Luke Steele.
At the other end, Jack Hunt – on his first return to Huddersfield – put in a fine cross for Hull loanee Nick Proschwitz but the German striker’s effort was brilliantly saved by the diving Alex Smithies.
Town took the lead on 30 minutes when Wells found space in the box after an Adam Clayton free-kick to slot across to veteran midfielder Southern who comfortably tapped in.
The visitors’ heads seemed to drop after going behind and Steele was soon picking the ball out of the back of the net for a second time when Town doubled their lead in similar fashion to their first. Wells this time skipped past left-back Tom Kennedy and found an unmarked Ward who slotted home.
It could have been three moments later when Wells beat the Barnsley offside trap but his effort was tipped wide by Steele.
Town dominated and dangerman Wells had another good chance. The January signing spotted Steele off his line but his neat lob went narrowly over.
After the break, Robins’ men sealed the points when Adam Hammill notched against his former club.
Emmanuel Frimpong saw a 25-yard effort tipped wide by Smithies on 53 minutes but Town made it four when Wells was brought down by Steele and Clayton slotted home from the resulting spot-kick.
Town did get a fifth on 87 minutes when substitute Sean Scannell scored.