Author: gledholt

Following Tuesday’s demolition of crumbling Charlton Athletic – put to the sword even more emphatically at Hull this weekend – Fulham provided starkly contrasting opposition and the energetic Londoners proved to be equally as good at the pressing game as Town, and sometimes their superior.

It is something of a mystery how the visitors find themselves in an uncomfortable position in the Championship – though distinctly average at the back, which Town were largely unable to exploit, they have genuine quality further forward and they proved to be the more composed side in a contest which lacked thrills but not interest.

Town’s propensity for slow starts is a concern; a suicidally misplaced pass across his own area by Hogg to Fulham’s leading scorer in just the 2nd minute interrupted a passage of meaningless keep ball which had begun with the kick off. With his, and his team’s, first touch of the game, McCormack, a regular nemesis, swept in the opener to the dismay of the expectant home crowd.

The error – Hogg intended to clip the ball across field but mishit it badly – had the consolation of being very early and recoverable but self inflicted wounds are hugely unhelpful in an unforgiving division where such moments can be the difference between success and failure.

Fulham, who combined a similar pressing game to their hosts with crisp passing, were much the more coherent team in the first half and Town were grateful, for once, to McCormack for drifting offside in the lead up to a well constructed but disallowed goal, to the referee (again, for once) for ignoring a challenge by Hudson on the troublesome Scot which could have been punished with a penalty and a diving block by the captain from a McCormack drive.

Before his goal saving intervention, Hudson had levelled the game when he latched on to an excellent Huws delivery from a free kick, stretching to divert past Lonergan as the Londoners’defence was caught flat footed.

Earlier, a rare flowing move from the home side involving debutant Husband, Wells and Lolley freed Paterson to send a superb curling shot past the visiting keeper only to hit the post. Lolley was unable to control his follow up shot.

Wagner had warned before the game that Fulham’s style was similar to his own and their high pressing severely disrupted the hosts with possession and poise at a premium. It made for a somewhat dull spectacle and many of the hallmarks of previous displays were missing from Town’s game with reduced time on the ball.

Going in to the break level felt like something of a bonus – Fulham had been the more effective team for the most part with Town unable to achieve fluency or control in a tough encounter.

While the home side adapted to their mirror image better in the second half and looked far less vulnerable to the crisp passing of their opponents, they were forced in to playing too many long balls, and Wagner will have to find different ways to counter teams who adopt the same energetic approach.

With the evergreen Scott Parker adding a further touch of class to Fulham’s passing game, Town did well to restrict their opponents to a few wayward shots and one clear opening – substitute Dembele should have done much better with an unopposed header he steered over the bar.

Despite their labours, Town did fashion the best chance of a winner when Wells wriggled clear in the box only for Lonegran to be equal to his shot and, more impressively, he was back in position to save smartly low down from Bunn after the ensuing melee.

The second period had seen Town dispossess Fulham more regularly than the first but their failure to capitalise on that possession was epitomised when Wells eschewed the opportunity to set Paterson free on the right – his hesitation summing up a largely ineffective performance by the striker and exposing Wagner’s lack of options up front which remains a big hole in his armoury.

At the death, an over hit pass from Bojaj failed to find fellow substitute Holmes when a tiring Fulham back four were exposed, but a winner from either side by that point would have been harsh on the victim.

Both of these teams will finish in lower mid table positions but for different reasons. Fulham’s quality is undermined by inelegance at the back and, despite Town’s inability to cause them enough problems, the Achilles heel was evident. For Town, another striking option is clearly needed with too much responsibility resting on Wells’ shoulders.

While the official man of the match award went to Paterson (who was certainly the pick of the offensive players), it should have gone to Hudson who lead his team by example and seemed to stop every threat that Fulham posed as well as grabbing the equaliser.

Debutant Husband was quiet going forward but defensively sound against his erstwhile employers and needs to be judged in a better team performance than this one.

Importantly, Town’s unbeaten run continues and a similar challenge to the one they faced against Brentford was far more successfully negotiated.

The flat track bullying of woeful Charlton may have inflated expectations beyond the current squad’s abilities but this was a point gained against good opponents who are likely to improve quickly under their own new manager and though it wasn’t much of a spectacle, a solid second half performance demonstrated tactical adaptability on which to build.

Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic are two clubs on on diametrically opposed trajectories, and after just a few minutes of a game which was to prove to be a very, very long night for the South Londoners it was clear that a home win was guaranteed.

Charlton’s off field disharmony has been bubbling away for some time – largely surrounding an unusual and, to Addicks fans, unacceptable form of ownership which has resulted in a succession of unfathomable decisions – and the disarray has clearly spread on to the pitch.

If there is any consolation for the clutch of hardy souls who witnessed a gutless, occasionally nasty capitulation from their team, it is that they couldn’t have picked a worse time to play a resurgent Town side who, without ever reaching the heights of recent performances, oozed confidence and determination. It may also be the case that the result may be the final straw which provokes change for a club it is pretty hard to dislike (apart from when they insist on being drawn against us in cup competitions time after time).

Chasing shadows for almost all of the first 20 minutes, the visitors offered nothing but a grim determination to defend in depth which was never going to end well. If any thought did go in to adopting a passive and prone formation, it may have been the hope that as their opponents have tended to convert a relatively low percentage of chances created from long periods of possession, frustration would bring reward.

As is often the case, combating an opponent bereft of ambition proved a little frustrating with space at a premium, and Town had to show patience as they probed their deep lying opponents with long spells of possession gradually building up pressure until the impressive Paterson combined with Lolley at a short corner and twisted Fox inside out to get to the byline. Having created the space, he picked out Hudson to head home from 6 yards.

The opener didn’t signal an onslaught, however, and Town lost their way for a period with their previous fluency deserting them and possession was surrendered too cheaply too often.

With very little to concern them coming from their opponents, some were guilty of over elaboration and the ball wasn’t being moved quickly or accurately enough to reestablish rhythm and coupled with a succession of free kicks gained and conceded, the game descended in to a scrappy affair with little quality.

In this slightly difficult period, Hogg came in to his own and was to be found all over the pitch snuffing out the limited danger Charlton could muster, and trying to get his team mates flowing again. Even at their least effective, however, Town worked hard to subdue their already dispirited opponents ensuring an entirely comfortable half for Steer who didn’t have a save to make.

Shortly before half time, the inevitable victory was sealed with a second goal from a corner. Despite Town’s poor return from such set pieces, Charlton came in to the game with a dismal record of conceding from them, starkly illustrated by Henderson flapping at Lolley’s whipped delivery. The ball fell to Smith at the far post whose goal bound shot was diverted past a man on the line by Wells. Glances towards the linesman suggested that Town players feared an offside decision, but the flag stayed down.

The goal was timely and due reward for the home team who had battled to elevate their game when they had become bogged down, and the visitors must have been filled with foreboding for the second half – they had utterly failed to take advantage of the dip in Town’s fluency with any of their own and were comfortably the worst side seen at the stadium so far this season.

With the game already seemingly won, Town improved in the second half as Charlton disintegrated all over the pitch, though they finally had an attempt on goal soon after the restart which Steer collected rather than saved.

While still some way from irresistible, Town slowly recovered their cohesion and a delicious cross from the much improved Davidson, building on his performance on Saturday, was volleyed by Wells straight at the keeper. Coming early in the half, what would have been a spectacular goal could have opened the floodgates sooner, but that was to come.

Huws was replaced before the hour, making way for Holmes which, in turn, moved the lively Paterson further back in the midfield. The Welsh international had played with his usual assurance but the after effects of the virus which had prevented him playing on Saturday had taken it’s inevitable toll.

The injection of the diminutive American’s pace and direct approach signalled the start of the eventual crushing of Town’s hapless opponents. While his decision making can be suspect – Wagner was furious with him for spurning the opportunity to take on a nice ball from Wells and shoot early in his appearance – there is a dynamism to his runs which will, surely, finally turn promise in to achievement.

Lolley, who worked hard without replicating his marvellous display at the weekend, was replaced by Dempsey on the right side of midfield and the combative Cumbrian added a different but effective dimension to the play.

Encouragingly, the two substitutions, far from disrupting the team changed the dynamic of the home side and for relatively inexperienced players to slot in so seamlessly is testament to Wagner and his staff’s work.

At around the same time, Charlton made two substitutions of their own – including Scrabble dream Reza-Ghoochannejhad who was to have an unhappy, possibly deliberately self inflicted, end to the game – to precisely no noticeable effect.

With fresh legs, Town’s pressing intensified to the point that Charlton were harassed to exhaustion. Hogg, who had already been the pick of the team in the first half, was superb in the second – his energy, composure and impeccable positioning demoralised a visibly shattered Charlton and the home team finally went in for the kill.

First Paterson, a creative spark all evening, drifted between and past less than committed red shirts and planted a powerful shot beyond the flailing Henderson – the goal was no more than his effervescent play deserved and his growing artistry is a massive asset enhancing the hard work going on all over the pitch.

Soon afterwards, the battling Dempsey poked a ball square to fellow sub Holmes whose shot took a deflection past an increasingly distraught Henderson (later to be sent to face the press in place of Charlton’s manager – a move which smacked of cowardice and further grist to the mill for the beleaguered Valiants fans). Holmes delight at scoring his first senior goal was a delight itself and it is to be hoped that he can now push on, mature and establish himself in the squad.

As if Charlton’s problems weren’t grave enough, Reza-Ghoochannejhad – thank you, Lord, for copy and paste – was first booked for a crude foul on Davidson and swiftly followed up with an unprovoked assault on Bunn to earn a second booking. It looked premeditated, allowing him an early bath and sparing him the ignominy his team mates were soon to face. Those same team mates looked furious and the disintegration was nearly complete.

In injury time, Bunn easily beat his full back and delivered a low cross to the near post. That our left back was waiting to bundle the ball home was something of a surprise (what was he doing on the opposite side of the pitch and up front?!); Charlton’s pathetic attempt at defending certainly wasn’t.

The threat of being dragged in to a relegation fight is rapidly receding, and another home win on Saturday against Fulham will surely convince all but the most sceptical, but Wagner is far from satisfied, demanding more from his squad after the game.

In truth, the performance was a little patchy against opponents whose mediocrity made them strangely awkward, but the team stuck to their principles in the face of some crude tackling – the game was very well refereed, thankfully – and a ramshackle, troubled opponent was eventually given the beating their display deserved.

Hopefully, the people of Huddersfield will begin to show up in greater numbers to witness a transformation of a scale not seen since Buxton – if we can keep hold of him, Wagner is taking us to exciting places.

(Apologies for delay – I wrote a report in full, tried to copy it and deleted it in error. It was a belter too – but you’ll have to make do with this second effort!)

The feeling that David Wagner’s transformation of Huddersfield Town continues apace can’t be extinguished by a game determined by some outlandish officiating by a referee and assistant who should (but won’t) be hauled over hot coals for staggering incompetence.

While having to replay a game which should have been won comfortably is disappointing and threatens to elongate Town’s terrible record in the cup, most supporters will be more than assuaged by a performance of verve and energy which built upon the massive improvements Wagner has instilled over a few short months.

If last year’s tie against the same opponents was symptomatic of Chris Powell’s sclerotic management, a feisty and always intriguing game further burnished the credentials of a coach with dynamic ideas and the ability to coerce previously seemingly rather limited players to implement them.

It took less than 3 minutes for last year’s shots on target to be matched, though Wells’ effort was tame and easily gathered by Al Habsi. Though Lolley was to stretch the Omani a little more later in the half, much of Town’s inventive and often intricate play rather floundered once the goal was in sight – one particularly thrilling move which culminated in a drag back and back heel to free Wells was rewarded with a weak finish.

Despite being dominated for long periods – and, you suspect, forced in to playing an unnatural game by Town pressing like opponents before them – Reading created the best chance of the game when the impressive McCleary fed Vydra in the box. The Czech, on loan from Watford for an outrageous fee, tried to feed Robson-Kanu but Davidson cleared from near the line.

The visitors – garishly outfitted in a kit which may have seemed a good idea on a designer’s drawing board in Summer but entirely inappropriate to a dank and grey West Yorkshire winter – were unable to build on that one attack of note and became increasingly starved of possession as Town grew in to the game.

For all their superiority, Town’s possession never carried genuine threat to the Reading goal, though the visitors will have been relieved to go in to the break level having been pegged back for long periods.

Town upped the intensity in the second half, and for 20 minutes were nigh on irresistible with Lolley – revelling in the freedom Wagner has given him – tearing at an increasingly frustrated opposition who began to resort to hacking at the burgeoning talent. Paterson buzzed around the play, linking the midfield with the lively Wells and it was only a matter of time before the Berkshire outfit crumbled.

Davidson, largely impressive in the rather thankless role of replacing Chilwell, received a magnificent cross field ball from Lolley, took one touch and delivered a great cross with pace which Paterson only had to meet with his head to redirect the power past the rooted Al Habsi.

A thoroughly deserved lead was followed by a period of complete dominance as Town outplayed the visitors with purposeful possession, aggression and movement. This should have been rewarded by a penalty when Wells took the ball round the keeper after Lolley’s inch perfect pass and was felled.

As the referee was positioned blind side of the contact, he stared intently for help from his assistant and got nothing. Using this as evidence, Wells was indicted for a dive and out came the yellow card. Even if Al Habsi had got to the ball first – and few in the ground thought he had – his attempt would also have brought Wells down; neither scenario could be construed as simulation and the injustice was needlessly compounded.

It should perhaps have been no surprise that the assistant palpably failed to assist. In the first half, a Reading player pushed his hands in to the face of Davidson and while the Aussie’s reaction was theatrical, the act was a sending off offence. The assistant clearly didn’t think so and, astonishingly, the referee not only failed to book him, he lectured Davidson as well!

Minutes after denying Wells a penalty, the same pair managed to change the course of the game when a clear foul on Wells on the halfway line was waived away and the breaking ball was played up to Vydra. With a clever control, Hudson was left grounded and the on loan striker turned Dempsey in the box before a slight deflection off the full back looped over Murphy.

With an improbable, ill deserved and fortuitous equaliser – well taken but play should have been called back – Reading smelled blood.

Town’s previous composure at the back began to unfold and though Wells had a header tipped over from another excellent Davidson cross, it was the visitors who began to look the more likely to force their way in to the 4th round.

As the clock ticked down, Piazon and McCleary combined down the right and a weary attempt at a tackle from the otherwise excellent Lynch allowed the substitute to feed Robson-Kanu to bury what looked like being the winner.

Minutes before, the hapless referee had denied Reading a clear penalty when Vydra was bundled over in the box – whether this was an evening up or more incompetence only the referee can answer, but the former is the most likely explanation.

With 5 minutes injury time about to be added, Wagner turned to Miller, perhaps in desperation, and redemption seemed highly unlikely.

It was the substitute who fed Harry Bunn for one final, weaving run at defenders. With 4 around him, Bunn could have tried to feed the ball in to the area but, instead, he turned and ran at them. Beating one man, he turned inside and on to a rash challenge from Norwood, just inside the area.

Though there must have been some doubt, in real time, that the offence was in the area, the referee pointed to the spot at last. Wells stepped up and fired low and hard beneath Al Habsi to gain a little revenge. The penalty wasn’t the best – a little too close to the keeper for comfort – but Wells good display was rewarded and the team were delivered of a little justice.

Events had conspired against a sparkling home performance, slightly marred by a negative if forgivable reaction to setbacks beyond their control, but the growing confidence in putting their boss’s inspired game plans in to effect augurs very well for the future.

The replay will be tough – Reading have some good quality up front as witnessed intermittently in this game – and Monday’s draw will determine just how tantalising the reward for success may be.

Before then, there is a real possibility that a team is going to be completely dismantled.

An imperfect but intermittently impressive performance saw Town overcome an increasingly demoralised and troubled Bolton; riding their luck at times but fully deserving to complete an encouraging and rewarding Christmas period with 7 points from 9.

The stricken home side, reportedly on the brink of administration which would inevitably be just the start of their problems, had been buoyed by a rare victory in their last game against Blackburn and started strongly against a strangely hesitant and error strewn Town whose occasional penchant for poor starts is a trait Herr Wagner will surely be looking to correct.

Misplacing passes, losing possession and shape and lacking an adequate response to the threats of Feeney and Clough, the visitors should have found themselves behind early in the game – an often fatal state in this unforgiving division.

An early Town foray forward was broken up easily and Pratley’s pump forward was headed on by Madine – beating Lynch a little too easily – which found Feeney and a completely exposed visiting defence. Outpacing Chilwell, the winger shot early, beating Steer but not the left hand post.

Town were slightly fortunate not to be punished by the ensuing play and the uncertainty which had pervaded the opening 10 minutes – including a near miss from Madine’s header following a great cross by Feeney – was followed by intense pressure by the Trotters with a couple of good efforts foiled by blocks by Hudson, who had one of his much better days.

Bolton, like Bristol City before them, had clearly set out to meet fire with fire to counter Town’s new style and harried a strangely lethargic opposition in to errors and disorganisation. Bunn and Scannell, in particular, were well below par and, while he improved, Hogg was guilty of giving away possession too many times in a mixed performance. His midfield partner, Huws, was better but not immune to the early malaise, and it seemed like an age before composure finally returned to the visitors’ play.

As Bolton eventually found out, maintaining the intensity required to keep Town in disarray is difficult and the tide turned following a strong penalty shout when Wells was taken down in the area following an excellent ball from Lolley. Apparently insulted by a poor refereeing decision – Guano’s challenge was laughably eponymous – the Terriers gained control and while poor final balls and the stuttering displays of Bunn and Scannell mitigated against many chances being created, a platform had been built for a much improved second half performance.

Wagner made a trademark and bold substitution, replacing the lethargy of Scannell with Paterson’s effervescence, and Bolton’s early energy was swamped, their cohesion dismantled and swathes of possession forced the hosts in to employing a crude, largely ineffective long ball game to Madine, who was marshalled relatively easily by Hudson and Lynch (though not always legally).

From the kick off, a flowing move involving Paterson and Huws set Wells free in the area, but the Bermudian’s good effort was very well saved and the pattern for the half was set.

Bolton couldn’t cope with Town’s pressing out of possession and time after time, the visitors were swarming towards goal – though poor decision making let them down too often.

Finally, the goal which Town’s enterprise deserved arrived. After breaking up play, the ever impressive Lolley was set free to run at Bolton’s retreating and increasingly traumatised defenders. His first attempt pole axed the unfortunately monikered Guano only to bounce straight back to Lolley to finish with admirable control.

Dominating possession and with their opponents’ confidence visibly deflating, Town attacked with pace and numbers only to over elaborate in the final third too often and the lead looked a little flimsy despite the hosts’ increasingly laboured and one dimensional attempts to level.

Hudson was hurt making a block in the area and when Town’s attempt to play out from the back floundered, Madine was free for once and he played in Clough to curl a shot wide. If the let off was deserved, it emphasised those pesky fine margins which can overturn superiority in an instant.

It was to be Bolton’s final chance of redemption though there was still to be a long wait before Town could seal victory – the marauding Chilwell could have capped another fine display with a goal on two occasions but composure deserted him. Sadly, his exhilarating loan spell is now over and the chance of extending it remote – Town fans will follow what could be a sparkling career with no little affection.

Huws had a good effort deflected wide for yet another predictably unproductive corner and other promising attacks floundered for want of the right decisions but Town had their foot on their ragged opponents’ neck.

Bunn, who had been largely out of sorts, was replaced by Carayol and Wagner’s growing reputation for inspired substitutions was further enhanced when less than 2 minutes later the Middlesbrough loanee finally put the game to bed.

Picking up the ball just inside Bolton’s half, Carayol ran in to the ever inviting space between the home side’s defence and midfield (it was a yawning chasm by this stage), and played in Wells who was clearly fouled by the wretched Guano, as he shot against the keeper. The miserable referee played a good advantage as the ball fell back to Carayol to hammer the final nail in Bolton’s coffin.

With victory sealed, the impressive Huws was replaced by Cranie and a large stride towards survival had been taken.

It had been a far from flawless performance.

Even slightly better sides than Bolton would have punished a painfully slow start – indeed, the slightly better Bristol City already have done, as have the much superior Brentford. While most teams in this division will find it difficult to maintain the high tempo required to subdue Wagner’s philosophies, the increased susceptibility to conceding early is a problem which needs addressing.

There is also a lack of ruthlessness at the other end – Town regularly swarmed forward in the second half with both pace and numbers and should have buried Bolton far sooner than they eventually did.

Looking past the flaws, however, the transformation of the team from a timid outfit seemingly waiting to be beaten by opponents perceived to be too superior, wealthy or powerful to challenge remains quite remarkable. The potentially debilitating loss of Whitehead’s experience and leadership has been largely overcome and it is not a coincidence that the swagger and attacking intent is now being rewarded by a much fairer share of luck, even if decent refereeing continues to elude us.

The unity of purpose is palpable and, importantly, spreading to the supporters who hailed Wagner loudly after the game.

There will be setbacks ahead – a shallow squad now stripped of a high quality left back needs reinforcement – but the direction of travel is assuredly upward and there is huge scope for further improvement.

On to the cup now – a repeat of last season’s disgusting capitulation seems impossible under this management – followed by 2 eminently winnable home league games which could well be a launch pad for a memorable 2016.

Happy New Year.

All of Huddersfield Town’s familiar failings were on display in a damaging, disheartening defeat played against the backdrop of a biblical deluge which lent an additional layer of gloom.

The frailty of a shallow squad was exposed, a stuttering, slow start was clinically punished and a first half littered with basic errors, many unforced, proved to be the undoing of a side which struggled to replicate the intensity of recent performances until a late surge nearly earned a point.

Missing the huge influence of the injured Whitehead, Town were defensively vulnerable while lacking a clinical edge up front and the weight of expectation seemed too heavy for some shoulders – seasoned Town followers could have warned David Warner that a surge of interest usually precedes anti climax.

From the kick off, Town failed to gain any control or possession and Bristol City completely turned the tables on the home team by pressing high and hard to force errors, and a cheap free kick given away by the increasingly vulnerable Hudson was whipped in for Fodjia to open the scoring. The delivery was excellent and only needed the slightest of contact but the lack of defensive organisation contributed.

A quick response was needed and was provided by a superb turn and run by Joe Lolley – easily the best home player throughout – who released Wells to be upended in the box. The lifeline would have changed the complexion of the game, but Huws weak effort was easily saved and a Bristol player somehow got to the rebound before the Welshman to clear.

On such moments do Championship games hinge, and an uphill task got much steeper as the home side’s lack of cohesion and errant passing encouraged a strong City side to impose themselves far too easily and enabled them to create panic at regular intervals before yet another unnecessary free kick was given away by Hogg.

This time, another practised free kick bamboozled the home defenders allowing a completely unmarked Flint (who had also been the first player to the penalty rebound) to head home with ease.

By the end of the half, Town were fortunate to be only 2 down as the visitors contrived to miss a couple of straightforward chances while their own fortunes in attack showed little sign of change despite several blocked and saved shots from Wells, Lolley and Chilwell.

It was perhaps expecting too much of Hogg to replicate Whitehead’s crucial role in the team and he had a horrible first half. Clearly not up to speed after a lengthy lay off, it could also be argued that he isn’t suited to a sitting brief and certainly didn’t possess Whitehead’s instinctive reading of the game and provided an ineffective defensive shield along with poor distribution.

Hogg wasn’t the only problem. Chilwell is a highly promising player but, forgivable for an 18 year old, had a day to forget on the whole and last week’s match winner, Scannell, found cul de sac after cul de sac as City’s left back contained him very effectively once he got to the point of delivery. Paterson was largely anonymous and withdrawn at half time in favour Miller – a stark and sobering reminder of the threadbare resources available to the new manager.

Soaked, literally and figuratively, Town trudged off to some boos from a disgruntled home support who had been expecting a major leap forward against the perceived weaker threat of a fellow struggler but witnessed solid, occasionally inventive opponents deservedly in front and precious little evidence of the lauded new style of play.

The second half proved more encouraging without dispelling any of the fears surrounding a team with too many flaws to be disguised by increased fitness, better ball retention and pressing. The sight of Miller being thrown on to change the fortunes of the game was emblematic of the serious difficulties Wagner will have to resolve in the next few weeks – both immediately to garner points in what should be a fruitful period and longer term with signings to inject better quality in the key positions of centre half and centre forward (a new right back is looking increasingly urgent, too).

While Miller is a lower league journeyman at best these days and his first contribution was a comically wild shot which went for a throw, he did provide an increased physicality to give the Bristol defence a different, if far from unsolvable, problem.

Employing a standard 4-1-4-1 formation and reigning in their attacking ambition, Cotterill – an experienced and solid manager – set up his team to frustrate the home side and was largely successful.

Town did, however, have openings. An early Chilwell effort went narrowly wide and attempts by Miller, Scannell and Wells were blocked, while the impressive Lolley hit the foot of the post with a good effort.

Surging runs by Scannell down the right, however, invariably ended in disappointment – he was either forced in to playing the ball back to Smith or hitting the first defender with attempted crosses. The one occasion he got in to a good free space, he over hit a ball in when a low trajectory could have found Wells in a replay of the second goal last week.

Dempsey, who had replaced the injured Huws in the first half, added energy but insufficient penetration while Lolley continued to cause danger with his running at the opposition but the increasing air of desperation in face of resolute visitors created more errors than danger.

Chilwell’s subdued performance rendered the left side largely redundant and increased the predictability of Scannell and Smith trying to engineer chances on the right, while the unsubtle presence of Miller was mostly dealt with easily by the visitors.

The game changed for the better when Bunn replaced Wells. The striker had worked hard in the first half and brought out a good save from Fielding in the second (Scannell was unable to control his follow up shot) but was injured while trying to gain a foul which didn’t fool another generally poor and inconsistent referee.

Bunn seemed to relish his opportunity and added spark to hitherto predictable forward play and his turn and return pass should have brought a goal for Dempsey who fired wide from a good position when he really should have scored.

Taking matters in to his own hands, Bunn then received a pass from Lolley, created space with a nice turn and smashed in a great goal from 30 yards in to the top corner.

A superb goal gave some hope of salvaging a point and it should have been gained when Miller’s presence forced a break in the area only for Dempsey to fire straight at the keeper, and the defeat was confirmed.

An equaliser would not have disguised the deepening problems facing Town’s new boss. The loss of Huws compounds the damaging absence of Whitehead and his leadership, goals are scarce despite opportunities being regularly created and a back four with Hudson and Smith is always going to be vulnerable.

Hogg fared a little better in the second half and it is to be hoped that game time will improve his sharpness and decision making, but he doesn’t seem suited to the role so effectively played by Whitehead – with Lynch hopefully returning soon, Wagner may have to change the way we protect a less vulnerable back four which should improve if Hudson is demoted to the bench.

For large swathes of the game, Town’s whole didn’t add up to more than the sum of its parts as they had done in the first 3 performances under the German. With weaknesses in crucial areas, a drop in standards and performance is much more likely to be punished and the need for an injection of his own players was starkly exposed.

In their defence, Town were not helped by the disruption of Huws coming off – and even more handicapped by his poor penalty which would have changed the game’s dynamics coming so soon after going behind.

If a silver lining is to be gleaned from a soggy, disappointing afternoon it may be the emergence of Lolley as the player we have all wanted him to be. He caused problems whenever he had the ball but tempered his enthusiasm with better timing of his passing for others to be given the opportunity of capitalising on the space he creates.

Apart from his eye catching run and pass preceding the penalty, he played a precision pass to Wells in the first half which brought a good save from City’s keeper and his was the last contribution with a simple pass to Bunn before the goal. A constant menace, his potential is frightening and he seems to revel in the freedom Wagner has given him.

It would be churlish not to acknowledge a good win for Bristol. They were very good in the first half and really should have finished Town off by the break, and while they rode their luck a little in the second period they defended stoutly and frustratingly to pick up the points which took them above their hosts.

With injuries and a short turnaround to cope with, Wagner has to come up with a revised plan to take 3 vital points from another relegation rival on Tuesday to banish the idea that St Andrews was just yet another false dawn.

(I won’t be there to witness it, though. Florida and better Christmas weather beckons – my next report will be against Bolton. If they still exist)

As Desmond battered away at Cumbria and Scotland, England’s second city was blown away by another powerful, energy packed performance by a rapidly transforming Huddersfield Town side roared on by a support brimming with belief in the style imposed on a formerly dispiriting and dispirited squad who seem to revel in the freedom granted by sheer hard work and excellent planning.

Even allowing for occasional individual errors, every single player contributed to a comfortable and thoroughly deserved first victory under what is beginning to look like inspired management from a man (and his team) settling quickly and easily in to Yorkshire life, and an equally brave and bold appointment by Dean Hoyle.

The progress made with substantially the same players whose inferiority complex under the previous manager was palpable has been extraordinary. Comfortable in possession, relentless out of it and coherent as a unit, this first win for Wagner is a massive step forward for what remain evolving strategies but which improve with practice and phenomenally increased fitness levels.

As each game passes, the team develops personality. Aside from the immense and incomparable Whitehead – who has been magnificent all season – we now have genuine heroes to follow. They may not be the best players we have ever seen (though don’t put it past this bloke making them that), but the effort and teamwork is something to behold.

There isn’t a great deal of fancy stuff – though Paterson’s skill to release Huws on the wing early in the second half was worth the, very reasonable, entrance price – it is more about supporting the player with the ball, perpetual movement and a relentless error inducing pursuit of the opposition.

While never quite reaching the heights of some of last week’s play against far superior opposition, the debilitating fear which seemed to infect our pre Wagner play has virtually disappeared and replaced with a confidence and occasional swagger which you just know is going to become a feature of our immediate future.

For all the bad luck endured in the first two defeats – particularly last week – the stars aligned nicely for a trip to a team suffering from significant injuries and evidently low in confidence after what may well have been a gravity defying start to the season. Rowett has done a good job reviving the Blues since Lee Clark’s struggling tenure, but there may be bumps on the road they are keeping on to the end of if this game is anything to go by.

A goal inside the first minute was a mighty help, but it epitomised Town’s new philosophy as a sweeping move from the left back position, involving two decisive passes and an excellent low ball from the impressive (at last!) Scannell was dummied by Wells for Lolley to bundle home a little scruffily.

What marks out the goal was the comfort in possession of Cranie and Chilcot at the start, Wells’ defence splitter to Scannell and Lolley’s determination to run pretty much the length of the pitch after his initial ball to Wells from halfway in his own half. Wagner must have been purring at the pitch perfect execution of the ideas he has been installing in the players in his few short weeks in charge.

The boost of the goal, which must have released a lot of tension, allowed Town to take control of the game, dominate possession and create more moments of danger for the home defence, with Lolley coming closest to adding a second when another great ball from Scannell found him alone only for his side footed attempt to deflect off a defender.

Birmingham rarely threatened though Steer (solid throughout) had to make a smart if routine save at his near post and was as relieved as the rest of us when a rare moment of midfield sloppiness allowed the home side to counter quickly down their right only for Brock-Madsen to poke wide from close range.

Otherwise, any threat from the Blues was elegantly thwarted by Whitehead’s uncanny game reading as the player of the season to date cruised through another first class performance until, worryingly, a second half injury curtailed his day. Pray for his recovery!

As was the case last week, Town hurried the opposition in to unwise and ineffective long balls with Wells and Paterson working tirelessly up front to force errors. Throughout the game, the visitors deprived their hosts of space and time, rarely loosening their grip on a team with pace but little guile.

The second half followed a similar pattern, though Town’s share of possession decreased. Their resolve did not and a solid defensive performance was only let down when Toral found space in the box only to fire straight at Steer, who blocked. Otherwise, the home side were comfortably contained and Town’s counter attacks were threatening but not executed clinically enough until the irrepressible Scannell made a strong run down the right, shrugging off challenges before feeding Wells to finish the game off from close range. It was a well deserved goal for the front man who had worked tirelessly without much reward until his drought was finally broken.

Scannell himself had threatened to double the lead but could only collide with the far post following excellent work by Paterson and Huws.

A late Paterson effort which was deflected wide following a good run by substitute Carayol (who provided an encouraging cameo going forward if a little suspect defensively) would have added gloss to a very good day, but Town had to see out 6 minutes of injury time – fairly comfortably as it transpired.

While I refuse to resort to calling the revival a “journey”, Wagner grasped the zeitgeist of the travelling support at the end as he insisted that all players came over to show their appreciation. He knew, as we did, that while there is a lot of work to be done (the performance was encouraging but far from perfect) this was an important moment for everyone involved.

He knew last week that the fans appreciated the efforts of him and his team and knows that we also have a part to play with patience and encouragement – while we can be a dour bunch at times (not altogether without reason!), supporters know effort and execution when they see it, and we are definitely seeing it.

The last time Town won 2-0 away in this division stretches all the way back to Elm Park in March 1998 (fun facts brought to you by Daniel Gee) and it is with not a little hope that this one is the harbinger of some very good times ahead.

As for performances; Whitehead barely needs further deserved praise and his recovery is vital, Chilcot shone in a solid defence, Paterson added flair and movement, Scannell was at his unplayable best at times and contributed hugely to a welcome clean sheet, Nahki’s hard work and much improved general play was rewarded with a much needed goal and Steer was a solid and comforting presence throughout.

But this was, above all, a team effort and the supporters felt part of it – loud, encouraging and increasingly enthused, it won’t be long before this new brand of football encourages back the many who have fallen by the wayside through the numbing struggles since we arrived at this level.

Finally, and an indication that Wagner won’t be following accepted wisdom, Miller came on as a late substitute. Now if he can transform Ishmael, he really is the Messiah. Would you put it past him?

Starved as they have been of excitement and attacking intent, Town fans warmly applauded a defeat against a dour but highly effective Middlesbrough at the end of each half.

While the sympathetic appreciation was well deserved following a first period of verve, adventure and creativity, the rather plodding second half consisting largely of repeatedly banging their heads against the brick wall of a composed and largely untroubled Boro defence was perhaps more to reflect the hard work of a side trying valiantly to put new ideas in to practise.

The disintegration witnessed at Hillsborough after an hour was not repeated, though another late goal which killed the contest had a similar, puncturing effect.

It is still too early to assess the magnitude of the calculated risk taken by Dean Hoyle, particularly as Wagner has been pitted against 2 likely contenders for the top 6, but it is also too early to dismiss the possibility that there may be an element of Emperor’s new clothes about a style which has yet to translate in to goals or points.

To focus on the positives, however, Town repeatedly reduced their more experienced opponents to hurried and wasteful long balls in to touch or returned to the home back four, and their dangerous players, particularly Downing and Adomah, were entirely neutralised. A quite remarkable 75% possession statistic was testament to the players’ ability to carry out a key component of Wagner’s philosophies; while it could be argued that Boro’s ultra conservative approach contributed to Town’s dominance of the ball, it may also be that one of the division’s best sides was forced in to containment for fear of ceding space near their goal.

The visitors were allowed the luxury of defending in depth and numbers by virtue of an early goal which owed a little to luck but also, indirectly, from a poor ball from Cranie which found Downing. His attempted cross resulted in a corner which appeared to have been dealt with routinely, only for the ball to fall to Clayton who evaded an attempted block by Wells before cleverly beating Huws and Chilwell. His shot took a wicked deflection off Whitehead but it can’t be denied that his thrust in to the area from an unpromising position, including having to recover from a slip after getting the better of Wells, was a worthy effort.

Coming after just 8 minutes, there was a danger that a potentially fragile team, haunted by far too many defeats, would shrivel in the face of adversity. Shrugging off the setback, however, Town went on to produce their best football of the season and the lack of reward was cruel and undeserving.

As Boro retreated, rarely to be seen as an attacking force again, Wagner’s men began to manipulate space with multiple passing moves and while this became occasionally stilted, their opponents’ resilience was increasingly tested. Unfortunately, any semblance of fortune eluded the team in the final third and 3 potentially game changing moments were to determine the outcome of the whole game.

A foul on the lively Paterson on the edge of the area, given by what we can only presume to have been reluctance by a quite appalling referee who missed numerous offences by the visitors while punishing Town at every opportunity, presented the first chance just minutes after Boro’s opener.

Wells curled an excellent effort against the bar with Konstantopolous (who shall be referred to as “the keeper” from here on in!) well beaten.

Shortly afterwards, Huws found Scannell with a lovely, raking pass from his own half which exposed the visitors defence to a rare moment of vulnerability. The winger’s sweeping ball to Wells was ever so slightly over hit, forcing the Bermudian to stretch to receive the ball taking him to his left and allowing Boro’s keeper time to smother an attempted clip.

The best move of the half was still to come. A quick throw by Chilwell to Whitehead was pushed forward to Paterson who back heeled for Chilwell to put in a low, dangerous cross met by Scannell but well blocked by the keeper’s legs.

Had any of the 3 chances resulted in an equaliser, it would have been the least Town deserved and the game would have been very different. An ambitious Boro side would have become more expansive – which, of course, could have seen them imposing their quality more effectively or, alternatively, provided Town with the space they found increasingly difficult to find in the second half.

Paterson also had a shot well saved, though it had been preceded by a foul on Wells on the edge of the area predictably ignored by the referee.

Frustrated as they were by an undeserved deficit at half time, home supporters had seen how the new style of play was in stark contrast to the caution to which they had become accustomed and there was a palpable air of optimism around the place as the players left to an ovation.

Sadly, the promise of the first half rather withered in the second. Boro were still being forced in to losing possession with ugly clearances and energy levels didn’t dramatically wilt as they had 7 days ago, but it became increasingly difficult to penetrate a resolute defence content to contain.

Poor crossing – particularly from the otherwise impressive debutant Chilwell – didn’t help and the visitors became increasingly comfortable with Town playing in front of them.

Promising build up play, including surging runs by Smith, Lolley and substitute Holmes (who put in a mature performance of some potential) floundered at the edge of the area, some clever interplay was unable to produce the necessary penetration and a reluctance to shoot from distance made an equaliser increasingly unlikely.

Wagner’s other substitutions failed to create the impetus Holmes provided. Dempsey found it difficult to get in to the game on the left while Bojaj’s promise is likely to remain embryonic for now – he doesn’t look ready – though he had the best chance of the half when good work on the left created a rare decent ball in to the area which he could only scuff when close in.

Despite their reluctance to get forward, it was inevitable that Boro would attack at some point and, for once, they got the better of a tussle just inside Town’s half and a good ball up to Forshaw was cleverly flicked by the substitute in to the path of spellcheck nightmare Nsue to finish nicely.

While the final result was harsh on Town, and whatever luck was available throughout the 90 minutes fell Boro’s way, the lack of striking options available to Wagner (reduced further by Vaughan’s departure) is a severe handicap which can’t be solved, if it can be solved, until January.

Having said that, many less resolute teams than Boro will crumble in the face of the intensity shown in the first half, the transformation to the new style has been remarkably quick and there is time and room for much further improvement.

Sometimes, it is worth heeding the words of an outsider, and while Karanka was speaking from the perch of victory, there was a sincerity in his advice;

“It was not a good performance but sometimes games are like that.
“Huddersfield looked like the top team, not us. Huddersfield played really well and I expected that.
“I saw Huddersfield at Sheffield Wednesday and it’s no surprise how well they played.
“David Wagner may have lost his first two games but he should keep going with his philosophy. When I came here I lost two of my first five matches but Middlesbrough trusted me and if Huddersfield trust him they will do well.”
Patience still needed.

As new Teutonic philosophies were unfurled at a bitterly cold Hillsborough, including the jettisoning of some familiar names unable to fully train in the first two weeks of David Wagner’s tenure, the new manager faced a daunting first test against an expensively assembled Wednesday side who look certain to be challenging for promotion after years of desperate under achievement.

However much Chris Powell’s constant refrain about the money spent by rivals began to grate, even a cursory glance at the home team’s bench exposed the reality of his special pleading. One time Town target McGuigan sat there alongside the highly rated Joao and recent loan signing Hooper and the options for Carvalhal were deep and were to prove to be transforming.

For the visitors, the absence of Lynch, Paterson, Vaughan, Davidson and Miller (well, maybe not the last one) forced changes of both personnel and positions which were to be felt late in the game.

With Cranie moved alongside Hudson, Tommy Smith reappeared at right back and, perhaps most surprisingly, Dempsey was converted in to a left full back; an almost certainly temporary move with the loan signing of Chilwell a couple of days before the game sending a rather blunt message to the Australian incumbent deemed unready for action after his international travelling.

It was also a surprise to see the restoration of Carayol, whose languid performances in the past did not scream gengenpresser, to say the very least.

So, an unfamiliar line up, playing a style adopted over the past two weeks and requiring high levels of fitness against a shrewdly assembled and settled home team in good form. What could possibly go wrong?!

It would be a little unfair to invoke the phrase “putting lipstick on a pig” over a performance which had signs of promise but which was ultimately let down by familiar failings.

A higher tempo, some good quality possession and clearly evident desire couldn’t disguise the largely absent goal threat and a defence which eventually creaked like a shithouse door.

In the warm up, players went through passing routines to get the ball wide and in to dangerous areas quickly and, without the inconvenience of opposition, there was a reasonable level of competence.

Whether it was dictated by having a relatively tiny centre forward or is part of the blueprint, it seems that building from the back rather than lumping it up front is to be the way forward. Despite a clumsy start to this style – Murphy was exposed more than once by back passes and was also guilty of some poor judgement – it eventually worked, with some more comfortable at it than others.

As the half wore on, a surprisingly limited Wednesday intent on feeding off the huge Nuhiu were comfortably contained, and there was a noticeably higher energy about Town’s play. Unfortunately, none of the pressing and quite staggering levels of possession was converted in to goal scoring opportunities, though there were one or two moments of misfortune when good runs by Scannell and Smith were ended by small misjudgements.

The impressive Dempsey – surely a certainty for a more telling role in midfield once the new loan signing is bedded in – had a decent shot routinely saved, but the home defence was largely untroubled. Murphy made one regulation save and Hudson eased the irritating Forestieri away from a heading chance which he could only guide wide.

A scrappy first half wasn’t helped by an increasingly annoying referee whose decisions infuriated both sets of supporters. He also infuriated Whitehead, with the consequences being felt later in the game when he had to be withdrawn before he became a double victim of the card happy Boyeson.

Having yearned for a different approach to Powell’s occasionally effective but often sterile game plans, the away fans were largely appreciative of a performance which denied Wednesday possession, nullified their pace and forced them in to predictability. All of the players worked hard and strained to implement the new ideas, even if it looked alien and a little forced from time to time.

For the second half, Wednesday replaced the ineffective Helan (an old favourite of ours who was once booked twice and still stayed on the pitch) with Joao, a Portuguese who has been something of a revelation in the Championship and destined for a big future.

Within minutes, the substitute was causing problems with his strength and pace and almost opened the scoring at the back post only to find himself at too acute an angle to convert a good cross.

Shortly afterwards, Hudson’s under hit back pass put Murphy in trouble and he only just beat Forestieri to the ball and was injured in the process, which undoubtedly affected him as the game wore on.

Despite their scruffy start to the half, it was Town who took the lead. A free kick by Smith was half cleared and found its way to Dempsey on the left. The youngster delivered a great cross to the far post for an unmarked Scannell to head in from close range.

For 10 to 15 minutes thereafter, Town, while never looking entirely in charge, looked capable of holding the lead and even adding to it. The best chance to do so fell to Huws, who was thwarted by a good save. Doubling the lead at that point would have potentially put the game to bed, though you never can tell with this Town squad.

As it was, the let off proved a turning point in fortunes, exacerbated by the voluntary but sensible withdrawal of Whitehead who had had a running feud with the referee (at one point he was rightly incensed that an advantage hadn’t been played, he contested decisions regularly and is prone to the occasional rash challenge).

Having had little joy from the aerial power of Nuhiu, Wednesday replaced him with Hooper having already thrown on McGugan.

The pressure from the home side increased inexorably and Town survived several close calls before Forestieri skipped past Hudson in the box only to see his shot saved on the line by Dempsey. Unfortunately the ball broke to Joao who swept in the equaliser.

In the lead up to the goal, Forestieri had also walked past Hogg – Whitehead’s replacement – and it was difficult not to think that his progress would have been quelled at source before the substitution.

However, Wednesday’s pace, power and quality was now in full blossom and the visitors looked increasingly unlikely to be able to resist the onslaught. A winning goal duly arrived and, again, the Owls’ Italian caused the damage, skipping past Hudson and firing a shot that Murphy could only parry back to him to lay on for Lee to convert.

In the space of just 10 minutes, the withdrawal of Whitehead had been ruthlessly exploited by a team whose own substitutions were game changing.

To their credit, Town didn’t crumble, but tiring personnel were unable to create chances (hardly surprisingly – they hadn’t created much when at full throttle), and a disappointing cameo from Lolley, on for Scannell, was capped with him losing the ball on the edge of Wednesday’s area allowing them to break on a forward committed Town. The powerful Joao curled in an excellent third to bury any lingering hopes of a Town equaliser.

Wednesday’s eventual dominance gave them the right to the points, though a two goal margin was possibly harsh on the experimental team put out by the visitors.

It would be ridiculous to be too cynical about the new style and the capability of some of the current squad to adapt and, indeed, there were promising signs for the future, but all of the problems Powell faced were on display again – not least, the well resourced opposition. While they brought on 2 forwards of proven, and in the case of Joao, developing talent, we brought on young Wallace to play up front. It is a struggle to remember Wallace actually touching the ball.

Without the exceptional Whitehead covering in front of them, our defence is hopelessly exposed, with one or two of them probably not, or no longer, up to the standards required. Up front, Wells simply doesn’t cause enough problems for defenders. He worked hard enough and some of his link up play was good, but he rarely makes anything happen for himself.

It is to be hoped, nay expected, that Wagner has some answers to these depressingly familiar problems – a run of difficult matches, culminating in the visit of Middlesbrough next, has seen Town drop to within a few goals scored of the relegation zone and while there is still plenty of time, our 3 victories to date have been against clubs in the same trouble as we are.

An interesting few weeks lay ahead.

In a disheartening and largely successful attempt to overshadow the musings of amateur match reporters (!) Huddersfield Town announced the departure of Chris Powell as manager on the morning after a decent, if somewhat streaky, point at Reading.

Apparently bored by a man who provided a professional approach to keeping the team in a division largely consisting of better supported and financially stronger clubs by adapting his limited resources to making Town harder to beat than in previous struggling seasons at this level, the club is now putting faith in a new philosophy of creating the necessary edge on opponents through the apparently magical production of young players and doing a lot of focused running.

According to several sources, incoming manager David Warner pronounced after 30 minutes of what was at the time a largely dour, error ridden Yorkshire derby that the players weren’t fit enough. For all the revolutionary tactics and methodology we seem to be being promised, it was rather comforting that our experiment with German/American ruthless efficiency has begun with a cliche beloved of many new managers.

It is, all at once, an attempt to sully the previous regime and justify the change, the buying of the time necessary to attain the required fitness levels and giving the impression that everything is back at square one.

While unconvinced and sceptical that the brave new world of gegenpressing will be implemented quickly enough to stave off a desperate relegation fight, if successful at all, it should be said that Chris Powell rather sleepwalked in to his dismissal. It is hard to believe that, for example, his defensive and largely ponderous pursuit of survival points would not have been helped by the energy and skills of Dempsey, and his belligerent persistence with Miller (and Smith before him) betrayed an orthodox and conservative approach flying in the face of the evidence in front of all of us.

So Dean Hoyle, as is his absolute right, has decided that not only was change necessary, but radical and risky change. Having lost his FFP battles against more powerful vested interests, he began to change direction some time ago with a clear out of fringe and unwanted players, acceptance of good offers for Smithies, Coady and Butterfield and a hardening attitude towards expensive but non productive assets like Gobern and Vaughan.

Unsurprisingly, Town have been weakened from an already precarious existence in a hugely difficult division – a thin squad, a distinct lack of consistent threat up front and dwindling attendances (as the bored or impatient have drifted away) has created the impression of a bleak future where success would be measured by not finishing in the bottom 3 and the realisation that this attempt to defy gravity would almost certainly fail at some point.

Powell’s tenure will not be looked back upon with much warmth but can’t be categorised as a failure. By the end of last season, the team produced some good performances and even occasional excitement as safety was achieved much earlier than an opening day thrashing would have suggested. Pathetic cup displays denied the club any surge of interest, however, and the trait was continued this season with another weakened team falling meekly at the first hurdle of the League Cup.

So, a new era is about to begin but before it could start there was the small matter of trying to reverse a depressing run of defeats against those lovable neighbours, Leeds United.

Mark Lillis took over for this game and perhaps with a nod to the new mood, named a side with no loan players in it and a squad packed with youth. Some of this was forced through injuries to Lynch and Paterson, but the omission of Steer and Huws was genuinely surprising. Unfortunately, Billings good start to the game was curtailed by injury following a brave challenge on Bamba.

The ongoing soap opera at Elland Road may have reached its nadir at home to Blackburn recently (but don’t count on it; at all). This was followed by Cellino offering to sell the club to fans only to withdraw the offer days later in predictable style. It could be suggested to the fans that they should consider this a good bullet dodging week.

Putting aside distaste of a club with a murky and unedifying history and a following which is widely disliked for very good reason, it remains a mystery why an investor hasn’t been found who can capitalise on a large, modern and much improved city with just one club, a huge nationwide following and, at the very least, the basis of global support.

A succession of shady owners have somehow been attracted to the rotting would be behemoth with the latest staring at another ban under fit and proper rules (and, even if this one is enforced following his appeal and only lasts until June 2016, other troubles in Italian courts remain in the future).

Tumultuous events at both clubs added some interest to what has become a waning fixture through familiarity – Town hoping that the presence of the new manager would incentivise their young team to reverse a poor run of performances against their neighbours while Leeds looked to build on a rare home win in midweek.

For much of an error strewn first half, both teams struggled to create meaningful chances and neither looked anything other than lower table strugglers. For Town, Dempsey stood out with his eye for space, energy and fearless tackling. Lolley occasionally got the better of his markers, too, but was unable to create real danger and his preference for cutting inside on to his stronger left foot is too easily read.

A nasty injury to Cooper who collided with a teammate before a corner held up the game for a long time, and the 8 added minutes were to shape the result of the game.

Just after the injury time board was held up, the previously booked Wooton fouled Huws crudely on the half way line and a second booking seemed to be a formality. After long deliberation, the referee called over Leeds’ captain presumably to warn him that a 3rd bad foul would elicit the red card from his pocket. It was a very poor piece of refereeing – you wondered if he’d been watching too much of the recent Rugby Union World Cup – and became exceptionally costly when the same player put a ball down Town’s left towards Dallas which was not dealt with by an out of position Davidson and this left Wallace exposed to a one two with Wood – Antunucci swept the ball in from close range.

The Australian is becoming a regular liability defensively and Wallace had already cleared up a couple of his positioning errors before the fatal one.

Worse was to follow as a long ball flicked off Huws’ head, wrong footing Cranie and flying through to the troublesome Antunucci who drew Murphy, went round him and tried to feed Cook. To his credit, Davidson had got back and cut out the pass only for it to fall to Wood to crash home.

It was barely believable that one of two poor teams had a 2 goal half time advantage when they should have been handicapped by a sending off, but poor defending is still inexcusable.

A spirited Town revival in the second half was tarnished by poor quality in the final third – even the prospect of Dortmund style pressing won’t help a side without a confident, regular scorer and the sight of Wells failing to connect when completely unmarked in the very first minute was just a foretaste of what was to come.

Had he converted that chance – and there were other opportunities in an enthusiastic response following the break – the game may have changed, but Leeds then put the result beyond doubt with a goal of genuine beauty.

A poor throw in by Davidson to Wells lost possession and Mowatt, who had scored a long range effort against Cardiff days earlier, advanced unchallenged before unleashing a vicious curling shot beyond Murphy.

Vaughan replaced the ineffective Wells shortly after and was to force a couple of good saves from Silvestri (as did Bunn) and, in truth, the home team played reasonably well without creating enough opportunities against a largely comfortable Leeds side who had capitalised on every bit of good fortune which came their way.

Holmes came on for a nice cameo.

While 3-0 was harsh and the refereeing blunder a significant turning point, Town’s woes in front of goal – the otherwise impressive Dempsey unsuccessfully tried to lay the ball off to Vaughan when clean through late on – have to be resolved and quickly.

With another intrusive international break giving David Wagner the chance to assess everything before a daunting looking trip to Hillsborough in two weeks (Town are taking the players to Spain in the break), we can only hope that he finds some answers.

Auf Wiedersen for now.

As Town’s young, much changed team finally succumbed to Reading’s incessant probing, conceding a second equaliser with just six minutes to go, the verve and control so in evidence in an excellent first half display had long gone.

Visibly exhausted, Town clung on, deservedly overall, to a valuable point against opponents easy on the eye but prone to over complicating their attacking play and thankfully profligate once they became sharper and more dangerous in a one sided 2nd half.

Missing Whitehead, replaced by Billing, the team which finished so well against Burnley took the field and continued where they left off at Turf Moor with an excellent start as Wells played a one two with a Reading defender before feeding Paterson to finish smartly.

The Forest loanee – who has added flair to a team that can be moribund for extended periods – also brought a good save from Al Habsi following an incisive run by Bunn which was halted in the area by a tackle which created the chance.

Over elaborate hosts rather played in to Town’s hands for much of the half and the midfield trio of Huws, Billing and Dempsey were comfortable in possession and solid defensively while Wells, finally playing a striking role rather than one mixed with midfield duties, linked effectively with Bunn and Paterson – though high balls to him were sometimes inevitable, they weren’t dominant and there were spells of attractive passing from the visitors which must have confused anyone who had been on a scouting mission for Reading.

It was a disappointing shock, then, when a free kick out on the right was mishit by Norwood and caught out Steer at his near post. The mixture of error and fortune was more than Reading deserved and the Northern Irishman’s gesture towards a meagre away support – largely comprising southern exiles and people who had judiciously arranged business trips (!) – was unnecessary.

Rather than spur the home team, the leveller seemed to inspire the visitors who regained midfield dominance and easily quelled any attacking threat from their hosts.

On 25 minutes, the lead was restored when a flick from Paterson to Bunn in to space allowed him to put a lovely ball through to Wells who finished excellently.

The goal epitomised Town’s first half – fluent and incisive – and the home crowd were as frustrated as their team as the whistle blew.

Defensively solid apart from one goalkeeping lapse (Steer has been excellent during his loan period, so can be forgiven one ricket), comfortable in possession and occasionally dangerous, Town looked a different proposition to the stiff, unenterprising and, frankly, dull outfit in evidence too much this season.

As the teams returned, Paterson wasn’t amongst them and an enforced reshuffle brought Lolley on to the right wing. The absence of Paterson’s finally recognised talent was a blow and it showed in a torrid second half for the Yorkshire outfit.

From the off, Reading bombarded their opponents with increased pace and purpose.

Hudson looked to get away with a tackle from behind in the box which fell to Blackman, whose shot was deflected on to the post by Steer and crashed over the bar by Sa.

The escape from an immediate second half equaliser was welcome but portentous – Reading spent the rest of the game creating danger and repeatedly pressurised a Town team which couldn’t gain any possession or respite for long, nervous spells.

With Norwood pulling the strings with his range of passing (the home fans should savour his ability while the weather remains unseasonably good; he isn’t one for challenging conditions, Oliver) the visitors were frequently stretched yet largely resolute.

Inevitably, Town began to look for breathers and their time wasting irritated the home fans on several occasions – as we looked on through our fingers, it wasn’t hard to sympathise but it was the only way the visitors could gain any respite.

Rare forays up field usually involved Lolley whose judgement didn’t match his ball holding ability – particularly on one occasion when Cranie was completely free on the right and in a great position to deliver a cross.

But the turning point of the game wasn’t any of the several dangerous efforts on goal, blocks and Steer saves; it was a miss by Hudson who blazed over from 6 yards after Lynch had challenged Reading’s keeper in the air following a Bunn cross which had looped off a defender’s foot.

We will never know if the referee would have blown for a foul on the keeper, but a goal at that stage would have deflated resurgent Reading and sealed 3 points.

As it was, the inevitable equaliser came when Cranie and Lolley didn’t react quickly enough when the ball found its way to Ola John on the left. The substitute turned smartly and fired in from a quite acute angle, perhaps raising a further question of Steer.

Reading deserved their goal, and perhaps more, for an excellent second half display of far greater fluency and incisiveness than they showed in the first period, but Town’s dogged resistance, coupled with their first half enterprise also deserved reward.

While our inability to stem the home side’s dominance of the second half was worrying, it should be said that this was a very young team missing Whitehead’s experience and the rearguard action, while somewhat on the edge, was exhausting but largely successful.

All in all, the team and manager can take pride in the display.