There’s so much to unpack from last night, both personally and about the game.
I was handed the chance, along with Jasper Caudwell, to experience the Man of the Match sponsors experience. It was a great gesture from the club to say thank you for our fundraising efforts in the marathon, made possible by the winner of the Gold member prize draw who couldn’t attend. Thanks to Graham Frost as well, for his kindness.
Just to clarify, for those who read this and don’t like me, this wasn’t in exchange for a favourable match report. To be clear.
I’m going to admit to something now. I picked my Man of the Match before the game started! I think everyone knows I like Sean Roughan; I think he’s one of our star players who is criminally underrated, so before we even sat down in the 200 Club for bangers and mash, I had decided he was getting Man of the Match. I suppose events on the field may have swung my decision, but throughout the game, every pass he played, every clearance and cross, I applauded and said, ‘Make sure we give it to Roughan’ before chuckling.
In fairness, he was one of two we picked properly, and a single vote outvoted me, but it did set a narrative for me. I had a lot of fun last night for several reasons, mainly the experience, the fact we beat Huddersfield (always nice) and the fact as they piled on pressure late on, I really didn’t feel stressed. I wouldn’t have liked it if they scored, but the pressure is off for us. if they score, so what? We’re not going down and we’re not going up. It’s a stage of the season I really should dislike, but I don’t. Football without worry, it’s almost like life without work. I’m carefree and happy.
I certainly was when I painted the penalty spot (a task usually done, I’m told, by children). I was delighted to have a picture taken with the match ball, and to discover I could wing a second helping of bangers and mash. It all came with a side order of frivolity, as if, for a brief moment in time (a month) football was just fun, and not a mood-changing event that causes rifts and arguments. I bet a few Terriers’ fans wish they could feel like that.
Michael Skubala made four changes, including a recall for Ethan Hamilton. Ethan’s been unlucky this season, he’s never really got going, impressing in patches, but also being a late sub in games where making an impact was difficult. Of all the players coming in, it felt to me like he was the one who needed the game more than anyone. As it turns out, he rose to the occasion magnificently.
The one issue I have with writing up the game is that not a lot actually happened. They had nine shots, but not one on target. We had four, two on target, with an xG 0f 0.48, but the actual goal had an xG of 0.4, which demonstrates this was a game very low on excitement. How funny, we score three at Barnsley and the team are accused of not being exciting enough to get people to renew season tickets, and yet a few games late we win 1-0 in a game that had 0-0 written all over it, and it’s a triumph.
A triumph it was. I outlined why I have issues with Huddersfield Town, and as I watched Lasse trudge wearily up the touchline in a tracksuit, I realised why. In front of him, Tendayi Darikwa turned in another excellent performance, and it felt like one of those talk shows where a jilted ex-lover is shown how happy their ex-partner now is. Believe me, the team Lasse has moved to are a lot of things, but happy?
Not a chance.
Huddersfield really felt like the April Fools. They announced £15m losses this week, and from the off their sizeable travelling support was edgy. They chanted about wanting a guy called Mark Cartwright out of the club, and by the end, were telling the players they were not fit to wear the shirt. Beleaguered boss Jon Worthington appealed everything on the touchline, he even had the temerity to have a pop at Roughan’s foot being ‘on the pitch’ after a throw in. I dare say he is right; a lot of long throw-takers do encroach a little on the field. Still, given that he was criticising my Man of the Match after 15 minutes, I took a strong dislike to him.
All in all, it’s not a happy Terriers’ camp, but one thing was for sure – there would be no goal from a set piece. No sir, they’re the best in the division at defending set pieces, and with Paudie out as well, part of our threat was gone. No set piece goals.
Imagine their surprise when we scored from a set piece. Reeco Hackett gets the plaudits, but this is all about Adam Jackson. Actually, that is unfair, as it came from another impeccable Tom Bayliss delivery, a man with the technique and style of Stefan Oakes, but twice the work rate. Jacko comes from the back stick as it comes in, and meets it at the front, like I greet my postman at the gate. I sometimes surprise my postie, and this delivery surprised Huddersfield as Jacko flicked it up, over, and 9/10s of the way in. Instinctively, Reeco poked it home, although he may not have needed to.
Jacko’s run was excellent though. Go and watch it again, and cherish it. Jacko has come under fire in recent weeks for a couple of errors, but he led by example and turned in an almost Man of the Match performance. He was on our list. Not my list, obviously, of one.
You can have as many sausages as you like Gary, well deserved many times over !