Saturday, 31st July 2010

Norwich City 3-0 Huddersfield Town - The Report

Stadium: Carrow Road Coca Cola League One Game	Kickoff: 3.00pm Date: Saturday, 19^th December 2009
Huddersfield Town’s abysmal away record continued as the in-form Norwich scored three second half goals to condemn Town to a seventh away defeat of the season on a bitter cold Saturday afternoon at Carrow Road. It was a tale of two halves as Town looked the sharper side in the first half but Town manager Lee Clark must be looking to bolster up his defence come the January transfer window as Town’s woeful defending continues. After Norwich lost 7-1 on the opening day of the season, the Canaries have never looked back, sitting in third place in League One. The former Blackpool winger Wes Hoolahan put the home side in front on 56 minutes, then two goals in five minutes from Chris Martin and Gary Doherty killed the game off. The visitors had the better of the first half and from the word go, their passing was incisive. As early as the first minute, Gary Roberts was fed through, only for his neat cross to be headed out for a corner. The Terriers had most of the early possession but Norwich did manage an effort on goal with seven minutes gone, Martin played through Hoolahan but the Irishman could only scuff his shot and the danger was cleared. Four minutes later, Jordon Rhodes had Town’s best chance of the game, a free header for the young striker in the Norwich box brought out a smart save from goalkeeper Fraser Forster. There was controversy near the break, Rhodes’ run almost ended in a Town penalty, only for the referee Chris Sarginson, to give a free-kick right on the edge of the area after Doherty was judged to have fouled the former Ipswich striker. The resulting set piece fell to Jim Goodwin, back in the starting eleven in place of the suspended Antony Kay, Goodwin’s shot in aid of a deflection, crept just wide. The second half started much the same, Rhodes firing over from a Anthony Pilkington free-kick but the home side started to find their rhythm. On 52 minutes, Martin should have really put the home side in front, a neat cross by Hoolahan after the Town defence got in a muddle, fell at the feat of Martin who managed to prod it wide with the goal at his mercy. Sure enough five minutes later the home side were 1-0 up, Hoolahan picked up the ball around 40 yards out and ran at the Town defence, as they backed off Hoolahan struck from the edge of the area and even though Alex Smithies got a touch, he could do nothing to prevent it nestling in the back of the net. Norwich pressed again Martin’s knock down header fell for Canaries’ top scorer Grant Holt, but the former Rochdale striker’s shot was well held by Smithies. A Town goal at this point could have got them back into the game but Norwich effectively killed the game off on 75 minutes. Hoolahan played a fantastic through ball into Martin and he cooly slotted the ball past Smithies. Gary Doherty made it three four minutes later following some slopping defending from Town and a Simon Lappin corner meant the ball fell to the big defender romp the ball into the net from eight yards out. It could have been worse for Town had Holt and Martin not missed their chances but Norwich away was a real tough test for Town and boss Lee Clark will have plenty to think about before the Boxing Day trip to Carlisle United for the second year running. Only two away win so far this season. Teams: Norwich: Forster, R Martin, Doherty, Nelson, Drury, Adeyemi (Hughes 46), Russell, Lappin, Hoolahan, Holt, C Martin Subs not used: Steer, Ostemobor, Gill, McNamee, McDonald, Dawkin. Town: Smithies, Peltier, Skarz, P Clarke, N Clarke, Roberts, Collins, Goodwin (T Clarke 75), Pilkington, Rhodes, Novak (Robinson 75) Subs not used: Glennon, Butler, Berrett, Drinkwater, Ainsworth Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffs) Attendance: 25,004 Match Report brought to you by, Sean Makin, www.Terrier-Bytes.com
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