By Nathan Findlay –
A strong performance from Barnsley FC coupled with yet another disappointing showing from Huddersfield Town condemned the latter to a 1-0 defeat Tuesday evening.
Despite the Terriers (frustratingly few) efforts in the game, it just was not a match against a team pushing for play-offs such as Barnsley.
Highlights
The Tykes had a total of 21 shots with seven on target compared to Huddersfield who took just five, with only one of those on target.
As has been increasingly common especially in the second half of the season, this is a disappointing result for Town on a number of fronts, from the lack of chances created to the overall shallowness of the team selection.
By this point, it is known that Barnsley are a very strong team that really like to push the attack. Manager Carlos Corberan had noticed already, but unfortunately had too little to work with.
Despite the impressive number of attempts from the Tykes, Daryl Dike scored the only goal of the game in the 65th Minute with an impressive bicycle kick that would have stunned the crowd had there been any fans there to see it live.
In the end, this was the only goal needed to give Barnsley the win. Looking into the stats it is clear that Huddersfield didn’t put up a good enough performance against Barnsley, and the team that has shown some of the biggest growth this season continues to march towards that play-off place and the potential of promotion.
The result now leaves Huddersfield in 20th place and with a total of 47 points. The gap between the Terriers and relegation is eight points. With only three games left Huddersfield are relatively safe, but securing as many points as possible over the next few weeks would be ideal to make sure the teams nipping at their heels below don’t end up overtaking at the last hurdle.
Rotherham, who are currently 22nd in the table, still have two games in hand due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the club for them mid-season, so this also has to be taken into account.
This could go any which way and it isn’t going to just depend on the results that Huddersfield bring back to the table, it is going to be down to the other teams around them and their performances.
Final Score: Huddersfield Town 0 – 1 Barnsley FC
Post-Match Thoughts
With a result like this, I always end up feeling somewhat conflicted. I feel that Huddersfield could have put up a much better performance than they did, but at the same, it was nice to see that they didn’t get thrashed, despite the number of shots that the opposing side Barnsley had.
I’m aware this sounds a bit I’m like damning Huddersfield with faint praise, but Barnsley put up another brilliant performance and this certainly hasn’t been their first this season. Their position really does show how well they have all adapted to the state of the Championship, and with the results they’ve had (not too dissimilar to Huddersfield’s own promotion season a few years back), it shows you can put yourself in positions that could line you up for a premier league.
That said, my focus is ultimately on the Terriers and the hope that they will bring us a better result from the Blackburn game and reflect on the mistakes that were made this time around.
Next Game
Huddersfield are heading across to Lancashire this weekend to face off against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday the 24th of April with a 3 pm KO. This is going to be another tough game. Points are vital at this moment in time and Huddersfield are in need of them.
Blackburn has been up and down the table this season, but they’ve put in some good performances from notable sides, so Huddersfield are going to have to put in the work and put this loss behind them to secure the points. I think this is going to be a very winnable game for the Terriers.