Report: Huddersfield Town 0-0 Stockport County
Huddersfield Town story posted by Sean Makin on 28/09/2009
The BBC's Football League Show commented on this game as "one to forget" as Town contrived to throw away two points for the second home game running as revitalised Stockport County held the Terriers to a stalemate at the Galpharm Stadium.
It another mismatch performance by Town as County, battered 3-1 by Town in the first round of the Carling Cup last month, proved difficult to beat this time around.
Town have now gleaned two points from a possible 9 in the last three games, their defeat at Millwall the previous week coming between Saturday's goalless affair with County and the similar result against Brentford over a fortnight ago.
Antony Kay and Theo Robinson returned to the starting line-up replacing Michael Collins, who was left out of the match day 18 altogether for a reason that hasn't been explained, and Robbie Simpson, who was on the bench. In goal was Smithies, a back four of Peltier, Peter Clarke, Butler and Skarz, the four man midfield consisted of Roberts, Kay, Drinkwater, Pilkington leaving Robinson and Rhodes as the front two.
The opening 20 minutes saw Town lose possession too easily, at times shocking passing resulted in Town giving the ball to their opposition. Antony Kay, back in the Town midfield after a bout of illness did have Town's first chance of the game when Stockport half cleared a left wing corner, Kay struck a 30 yard volley which clipped the County crossbar on 24 minutes.
After that Town started to begin having that edge in possession, often pinning back County into their own half only to spoil some good work with lacklustre passes.
Stockport manager Gary Abblett come to the Galpharm with a game plan, County strived to stifle Town in midfield where they operated a midfield five while Nick Bignall played as the lone front man, which as times had both Peter Clarke and Andy Butler on their toes.
Danny Drinkwater, nevertheless, was constantly hungry for the ball and the on-loan Manchester United midfield playmaker was eager to spark the game into life.
Anthony Pilkington was keen to make an impact against his former side only to stumble on getting himself into good positions. After beating County's full back Mike Rose and hareing into the box, Pilkington's shot from a tight angle cannoned off the legs of Stockport stopper Owain Fon Williams when he may have been better passing instead of going for glory.
Drinkwater, Rhodes, Pilkington, Kay and Roberts all tried their luck on goals only of Stockport to get back in numbers, blocking efforts from Town right, left and centre. Abblett;'s game plan was clearly frustrating Town.
After the break Rhodes should have put Town in front, heading a left-wing Roberts cross just too high before County's Carl Baker responded with Stockport's first effort on target - a header straight at Town keeper Alex Smithies.
Stockport's first effort on target seem to spark County that put Town under a spell of pressure and made the Town defence earn their money.
Just past the hour, Roberts seemed to have broken County's resistance following a neat passing move involving Drinkwater and Robinson, who at this stage looked a real threat to Stockport. It led to Rhodes having a shit blocked, County failed to clear and got a lucky escape with Roberts hitting the follow up against the bar.
At the death it was Town who had a left off with Smithies denied David Poole and smothered the ball at the second attempt.
After a dismal result last week against Millwall, the fans were looking for a reaction which resulted in another frustrating stalemate. Its clear that most teams that come to the Galpharm this season will play with the same game plan Brentford and Stockport used. It appears the firepower has dried up but I wouldn't be too worried its still far to early but we need to get it sorted quickly as the gap between Town and the top teams could get wider.
Sean's Star Man - Danny Drinkwater
Played well, always hungry for the ball in the Town midfield and his passing at times is quality.
Teams:
Town: Smithies, Peltier, P.Clarke, Butler, Skarz, Roberts (Ainsworth 71), Drinkwater, Kay, A.Pilkington, Robinson, Rhodes (Novak 71)
Subs not used: Glennon, N.Clarke, Berrett, Goodwin, Simpson
Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins, Huntington, Raynes, Rose, Vincent (D. Pilkington 77), Bridcutt, Tansey, Poole, Baker, Bignall (Thompson 81)
Subs not used: Turnbull, Gerrard, Griffin, Halls, Havern
Referee: Oliver Langford (Midlands)
Attendance: 12,020
It another mismatch performance by Town as County, battered 3-1 by Town in the first round of the Carling Cup last month, proved difficult to beat this time around.
Town have now gleaned two points from a possible 9 in the last three games, their defeat at Millwall the previous week coming between Saturday's goalless affair with County and the similar result against Brentford over a fortnight ago.
Antony Kay and Theo Robinson returned to the starting line-up replacing Michael Collins, who was left out of the match day 18 altogether for a reason that hasn't been explained, and Robbie Simpson, who was on the bench. In goal was Smithies, a back four of Peltier, Peter Clarke, Butler and Skarz, the four man midfield consisted of Roberts, Kay, Drinkwater, Pilkington leaving Robinson and Rhodes as the front two.
The opening 20 minutes saw Town lose possession too easily, at times shocking passing resulted in Town giving the ball to their opposition. Antony Kay, back in the Town midfield after a bout of illness did have Town's first chance of the game when Stockport half cleared a left wing corner, Kay struck a 30 yard volley which clipped the County crossbar on 24 minutes.
After that Town started to begin having that edge in possession, often pinning back County into their own half only to spoil some good work with lacklustre passes.
Stockport manager Gary Abblett come to the Galpharm with a game plan, County strived to stifle Town in midfield where they operated a midfield five while Nick Bignall played as the lone front man, which as times had both Peter Clarke and Andy Butler on their toes.
Danny Drinkwater, nevertheless, was constantly hungry for the ball and the on-loan Manchester United midfield playmaker was eager to spark the game into life.
Anthony Pilkington was keen to make an impact against his former side only to stumble on getting himself into good positions. After beating County's full back Mike Rose and hareing into the box, Pilkington's shot from a tight angle cannoned off the legs of Stockport stopper Owain Fon Williams when he may have been better passing instead of going for glory.
Drinkwater, Rhodes, Pilkington, Kay and Roberts all tried their luck on goals only of Stockport to get back in numbers, blocking efforts from Town right, left and centre. Abblett;'s game plan was clearly frustrating Town.
After the break Rhodes should have put Town in front, heading a left-wing Roberts cross just too high before County's Carl Baker responded with Stockport's first effort on target - a header straight at Town keeper Alex Smithies.
Stockport's first effort on target seem to spark County that put Town under a spell of pressure and made the Town defence earn their money.
Just past the hour, Roberts seemed to have broken County's resistance following a neat passing move involving Drinkwater and Robinson, who at this stage looked a real threat to Stockport. It led to Rhodes having a shit blocked, County failed to clear and got a lucky escape with Roberts hitting the follow up against the bar.
At the death it was Town who had a left off with Smithies denied David Poole and smothered the ball at the second attempt.
After a dismal result last week against Millwall, the fans were looking for a reaction which resulted in another frustrating stalemate. Its clear that most teams that come to the Galpharm this season will play with the same game plan Brentford and Stockport used. It appears the firepower has dried up but I wouldn't be too worried its still far to early but we need to get it sorted quickly as the gap between Town and the top teams could get wider.
Sean's Star Man - Danny Drinkwater
Played well, always hungry for the ball in the Town midfield and his passing at times is quality.
Teams:
Town: Smithies, Peltier, P.Clarke, Butler, Skarz, Roberts (Ainsworth 71), Drinkwater, Kay, A.Pilkington, Robinson, Rhodes (Novak 71)
Subs not used: Glennon, N.Clarke, Berrett, Goodwin, Simpson
Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins, Huntington, Raynes, Rose, Vincent (D. Pilkington 77), Bridcutt, Tansey, Poole, Baker, Bignall (Thompson 81)
Subs not used: Turnbull, Gerrard, Griffin, Halls, Havern
Referee: Oliver Langford (Midlands)
Attendance: 12,020
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