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Huddersfield Town 2-0 Luton Town: Terriers go third after defeating Hatters

Huddersfield Town are now four points off second-placed Bournemouth with five Championship games still to play
Huddersfield Town are now four points off second-placed Bournemouth with five Championship games still to play

Huddersfield Town moved third in the Championship as they overcame play-off rivals Luton Town in an edgy game at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The hosts took the lead just before the hour mark when Jon Russell expertly lobbed in following Pipa’s short throw-in.

Elijah Adebayo missed from the spot to level for Luton , however, after Danel Sinani brought down James Bree.

Naby Sarr made sure of the win in the final minute as he headed in a Sorba Thomas corner unopposed at the back post.

The result moved Huddersfield above Nottingham Forest and four points behind second-placed Bournemouth with five matches still to play, although the Cherries have two games in hand.

Luton, on the other hand, stretched their winless run to three games, but remain fifth with a two-point cushion in the play-off positions.

The Hatters’ task was made harder just after the half-hour mark when Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu was helped from the field after picking up an injury.

But their best chance of the opening half came moments later when Harry Cornick forced a diving save from Lee Nicholls with a drive from outside the box.

The visitors went on to lose Henri Lansbury in the second period to a neck injury and, as play restarted as he cagily walked off the field, Russell scored with a brilliant lofted effort that soared over Luton keeper James Shea and dropped into the corner.

There was controversy after Adebayo grazed the post with his 70th-minute penalty as Kal Naismith, Fred Onyedinma and Town winger Thomas booked in a melee that followed Naismith pushing Lewis O’Brien to the ground.

But substitute Sarr’s late goal wrapped up a huge victory for the hosts as the Luton defence failed to pick up the defender as he worked his way into the box.

Huddersfield Town head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio Leeds:

“Today we were playing a very balanced and equal game. For me the details today weren’t in our favour.

“Defensive work today was very important and we defended excellent.

“We have said for a long time we need the players to be ready. The contribution of the players from the bench was massive.”

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:

“It hinged on us not defending two situations because they didn’t have to work hard. We were excellent I thought in terms of defensive shape.

“We were bold, we were brave and we moved the ball. In the second half I thought we stepped on the front foot. They took a throw-in off the back of someone and the ball has looped in and gone in.

“Late on, Naby Sarr comes on and no one picks him out. Two naive bits of defending has cost us. That’s been further compounded by a penalty miss when we were really in the ascendancy. That changed the game but that’s the nature of what Championship football is.”

Line-ups

Huddersfield

Formation 3-4-3

  • 21NichollsBooked at 86mins
  • 32Lees
  • 6Hogg
  • 26Colwill
  • 2Ávila
  • 37Russell
  • 8O’Brien
  • 3ToffoloBooked at 90mins
  • 24SinaniSubstituted forHolmesat 77′minutes
  • 25WardSubstituted forSarrat 84′minutes
  • 16ThomasBooked at 71minsSubstituted forRhodesat 90+3′minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Rhodes
  • 10Koroma
  • 18Blackman
  • 19Holmes
  • 20Turton
  • 23Sarr
  • 48Eiting

Luton

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Shea
  • 2Bree
  • 5Bradley
  • 4NaismithBooked at 71mins
  • 24OnyedinmaBooked at 71mins
  • 17MpanzuSubstituted forSnodgrassat 35′minutes
  • 23LansburySubstituted forPottsat 58′minutes
  • 29Bell
  • 22Campbell
  • 7CornickSubstituted forHyltonat 81′minutes
  • 11Adebayo

Substitutes

  • 3Potts
  • 8Berry
  • 9Hylton
  • 12Snodgrass
  • 20Kioso
  • 21Isted
  • 26Muskwe

Referee:
Geoff Eltringham

Attendance:
18,379

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Huddersfield Town 2, Luton Town 0.

  2. Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 2, Luton Town 0.

  3. Foul by Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town).

  4. Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Offside, Huddersfield Town. Jordan Rhodes tries a through ball, but Duane Holmes is caught offside.

  6. Foul by Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town).

  7. Tom Lees (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Offside, Huddersfield Town. Harry Toffolo tries a through ball, but Lewis O’Brien is caught offside.

  9. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Pipa.

  10. Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Jordan Rhodes replaces Sorba Thomas.

  11. Attempt missed. Amari’i Bell (Luton Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass.

  12. Harry Toffolo (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  14. Foul by Harry Toffolo (Huddersfield Town).

  15. Attempt saved. Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Duane Holmes.

  16. Goal! Huddersfield Town 2, Luton Town 0. Naby Sarr (Huddersfield Town) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sorba Thomas with a cross following a corner.

  17. Corner, Huddersfield Town. Conceded by Fred Onyedinma.

  18. Foul by Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town).

  19. Lewis O’Brien (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Offside, Huddersfield Town. Jonathan Hogg tries a through ball, but Sorba Thomas is caught offside.

Sourced From BBC

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