Report: Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town story posted by Sean Makin on 03/04/2011
Back-to-back wins and a fifth concessive clean sheet with a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park ensured Town's automatic promotion chase keeps on the right track.
Goals in each half from on-loan Arsenal striker Benik Afobe and substitute Lee Novak was enough for The Terriers to take back all three points to West Yorkshire in a scrappy, physical game against Tranmere. Town keep their unbeaten record in 2011 which now stretches to nineteen games.
After the 0-0 draw with Rovers earlier in the season at the Galpharm Stadium, manager Lee Clark favoured a 4-3-3 system. Jordan Rhodes was dropped to the bench as Benik Afobe lead the line on his own. Joey Gudjonsson came into the three-man midfield as Lee Peltier was preferred at the right-back position.
A comical early moment of the match when defender Jamie McCombe slid in his own penalty area to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Ian Bennett after pressure from ex-Leeds striker Enoch Shownumi, the big striker dived to the floor like he'd been shot and have the cheek to claim for a penalty.
Town found it hard to find any passing rhythm on a muddy and bumpy Tranmere pitch. Rovers' left-back Aaron Cresswell was causing problems with his cross from the left and luckily for Town, defender Ash Taylor failed to connect from a Cresswell free-kick in the opening ten minutes.
Danny Ward's shot was well block by Mark McChrystal and the resulting corner from Gary Roberts was failed to be cleared by Tranmere, the ball fell to Gudjonsson who fired a smartly-struck volley just wide of Tony Warner's post.
Danny Ward was again in the thick of it when good defensive play from Kevin Kilbane saw Roberts break in midfield, the winger played the ball out of the right to the onrushing Ward, who beat Cresswell with a lovely first touch, but his shot found the side netting as Warner came rushing out of the Tranmere goal.
Tranmere's League One Young Player of the Year Dale Jennings played a neat ball to Zoumana Bakayogo, who forced Bennett in the Town goal to his first save of the match and Robbie Weir had a shot that went horribly wide.
Town took the lead on 40 minutes through Benik Afobe. Scott Arfield had a well-struck shot saved superbly by Warner and from the resulting corner Kilbane hit the post. The rebound fell back to Kilbane, who laid the ball off to Roberts to cross in again from the left, the winger skilfully chipped the ball to the far post where Afobe pounced amongst a crowd of players to bundle the ball home.
Just after the break McCombe headed over with a powerful header from Roberts' corner and a free-kick on the left-hand corner of the Tranmere box was wasted by Gudjonsson who fired straight at Warner.
The home side rarely threatened Town in the final third by dominated most of the play as Lee Clark ran the changes by changing to a 4-4-2 formation by bringing on top scorer Jordan Rhodes for winger Danny Ward.
Tranmere did give The Terriers a scare in the final third when Showunmi broke away from McCombe down the right, and his cross found Weir at the far post but somehow the winger failed to convert from mere yards out.
Jennings when close again for Rovers but Town had their chances with Rhodes firing straight at Warner and Roberts fired over after leaving McChrystal on the floor.
It was Lee Novak who wrapped up the game for The Terriers, Peltier's ball forward released Novak but the Tranmere defenders stopped as Rhodes was coming back from an offside position, the Geordie striker kept going and rounded the onrushing Warner to roll the ball home into the empty net.
Another comedy moment of the afternoon, at the end Tranmere goalkeeper Tony Warner seemed to be gesturing and having words with some Town fans behind the goal. I'd love to know what was said.
Sean's Star Man - Benik Afobe
Caused Tranmere's defence all sorts of problem, especially in the first half. Pounced like an instinctive striker to open the scoring and his work rate was excellent throughout the match. Lots of potential in the lad.
Teams:
Tranmere: Warner, Cresswell, McChrystal, Taylor, Kay, Bakayogo (McGurk 69), Welsh, Weir, Labadie, Showunmi, Jennings (Akins 90)
Subs not used: Collister, Wood, Blanchard, Mahon, Fraughan.
Town: Bennett, Ridehhalgh (Hunt 11), P Clarke, McCombe, Peltier, Roberts, Arfield, Kilbane, Gudjonsson, Ward (Rhodes 67), Afobe (Novak 81).
Subs not used: Colgan, Morrison, Kay, Lee.
Referee: D Deadman
Attendance: 6,438
Goals in each half from on-loan Arsenal striker Benik Afobe and substitute Lee Novak was enough for The Terriers to take back all three points to West Yorkshire in a scrappy, physical game against Tranmere. Town keep their unbeaten record in 2011 which now stretches to nineteen games.
After the 0-0 draw with Rovers earlier in the season at the Galpharm Stadium, manager Lee Clark favoured a 4-3-3 system. Jordan Rhodes was dropped to the bench as Benik Afobe lead the line on his own. Joey Gudjonsson came into the three-man midfield as Lee Peltier was preferred at the right-back position.
A comical early moment of the match when defender Jamie McCombe slid in his own penalty area to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Ian Bennett after pressure from ex-Leeds striker Enoch Shownumi, the big striker dived to the floor like he'd been shot and have the cheek to claim for a penalty.
Town found it hard to find any passing rhythm on a muddy and bumpy Tranmere pitch. Rovers' left-back Aaron Cresswell was causing problems with his cross from the left and luckily for Town, defender Ash Taylor failed to connect from a Cresswell free-kick in the opening ten minutes.
Danny Ward's shot was well block by Mark McChrystal and the resulting corner from Gary Roberts was failed to be cleared by Tranmere, the ball fell to Gudjonsson who fired a smartly-struck volley just wide of Tony Warner's post.
Danny Ward was again in the thick of it when good defensive play from Kevin Kilbane saw Roberts break in midfield, the winger played the ball out of the right to the onrushing Ward, who beat Cresswell with a lovely first touch, but his shot found the side netting as Warner came rushing out of the Tranmere goal.
Tranmere's League One Young Player of the Year Dale Jennings played a neat ball to Zoumana Bakayogo, who forced Bennett in the Town goal to his first save of the match and Robbie Weir had a shot that went horribly wide.
Town took the lead on 40 minutes through Benik Afobe. Scott Arfield had a well-struck shot saved superbly by Warner and from the resulting corner Kilbane hit the post. The rebound fell back to Kilbane, who laid the ball off to Roberts to cross in again from the left, the winger skilfully chipped the ball to the far post where Afobe pounced amongst a crowd of players to bundle the ball home.
Just after the break McCombe headed over with a powerful header from Roberts' corner and a free-kick on the left-hand corner of the Tranmere box was wasted by Gudjonsson who fired straight at Warner.
The home side rarely threatened Town in the final third by dominated most of the play as Lee Clark ran the changes by changing to a 4-4-2 formation by bringing on top scorer Jordan Rhodes for winger Danny Ward.
Tranmere did give The Terriers a scare in the final third when Showunmi broke away from McCombe down the right, and his cross found Weir at the far post but somehow the winger failed to convert from mere yards out.
Jennings when close again for Rovers but Town had their chances with Rhodes firing straight at Warner and Roberts fired over after leaving McChrystal on the floor.
It was Lee Novak who wrapped up the game for The Terriers, Peltier's ball forward released Novak but the Tranmere defenders stopped as Rhodes was coming back from an offside position, the Geordie striker kept going and rounded the onrushing Warner to roll the ball home into the empty net.
Another comedy moment of the afternoon, at the end Tranmere goalkeeper Tony Warner seemed to be gesturing and having words with some Town fans behind the goal. I'd love to know what was said.
Sean's Star Man - Benik Afobe
Caused Tranmere's defence all sorts of problem, especially in the first half. Pounced like an instinctive striker to open the scoring and his work rate was excellent throughout the match. Lots of potential in the lad.
Teams:
Tranmere: Warner, Cresswell, McChrystal, Taylor, Kay, Bakayogo (McGurk 69), Welsh, Weir, Labadie, Showunmi, Jennings (Akins 90)
Subs not used: Collister, Wood, Blanchard, Mahon, Fraughan.
Town: Bennett, Ridehhalgh (Hunt 11), P Clarke, McCombe, Peltier, Roberts, Arfield, Kilbane, Gudjonsson, Ward (Rhodes 67), Afobe (Novak 81).
Subs not used: Colgan, Morrison, Kay, Lee.
Referee: D Deadman
Attendance: 6,438
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