[themaclad]

Huddersfield Town 1 Ward Preston North End 3 Browne, Keane, Whiteman

Huddersfield Town starting XI: Maxwell; Pearson (Edmonds-Green, 65), Helik, Lees (Nakayama, 46); Thomas, Kasumu, Hogg, Austerfield (Wiles, 46), Koroma (Headley, 46); Ward (Diarra, 61), Burgzorg. Subs not used: Nicholls, Edwards, Ayina, Iorpenda.

PNE starting XI: Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Lindsay (Brady, 84); Potts, Whiteman, Holmes (Frøkjær, 74), Browne (Woodburn, 84), Millar (Hughes, 67); Keane (McCann, 67), Evans. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Best.

Attendance: 17,549 (1,176 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr J Busby.

Well that was totally unexpected after 4 games of utter dross, we turn up and play albeit against a side who were struggling, but you still have to do the job on the pitch and fair play to them they did. Browne and Miller outstanding, Whiteman gave a masterful performance as good as he has played in months. Suspect a lot of frustration was released last night after the flak they have got in recent weeks.
Three minutes in could have been 2 up also should have had a penalty. All involving Browne, shot wide from a good position, then brought down, then headed Holmes cross past Maxwell.
Looked as we could score every time we went forward, wasn't to last and started a bit of safety first play taking the sting out of the opposition, although Woodman had to produce a save from Burgzorg.
Massive chance for Town midway through the half as usual from one of our corners, Whiteman one heroic tackle midfield before putting in an even better one to stop Koroma from shooting.
Woke us up, and we were back on the front foot and duly got the second just before the break, Miller lost his marker and took on a Town defender who made the elementary mistake of turning his back, outside of right ball into Keane first time shot passed Maxwell, cruising. The second saw some Town fans head home.
Three changes at half time for the home side, much improved for 10 minutes, pulled a goal back right away, excellent cross from Pearson, Ward nods home, game on. Hanging on for a couple of minutes before we got a grip again, started to pass the ball about and regained control, Whitemman passed the third in from outside the box having seen it this morning the phrase goalkeeping error springs to mind.
Easy after that game management to the front and three points in the bag.

Nightmare journeyy home but the M61 was closed for obvious reasons

Huddersfield manager Darren Moore told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I'm not happy - not happy with the way we started the game, not happy with the energy and obviously going a goal down in the first two minutes, you can't be happy with that.

"We made a change at half-time because we had to get some impetus back into the game. Wardy scored his goal and we're back in the game, and we had a 10-15-minute spell where it looked like we were getting back in the game and forcing Preston back.

"The disappointing thing was that on the third goal, with the shot, and trajectory of the ball, that it ended up in the back of the net, which I didn't expect to see.

"That seemed to knock the wind out of our sails, they went into a low block and we found it difficult to break them down.

"I could have made changes 20 minutes into the game."

Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The performance was different class, from start to finish. Every single individual, and collectively as a team, were fantastic. The goals were well-worked.

"That was the plan, to get right after them early doors. We knew we'd have large parts of possession, and the lads executed the team plan to a tee.

"I've always had faith that the boys could do that as they've shown it before. Some people might have doubts, and that's fine, but for what we are and what we're trying to do, it's pleasing."




Miller's drag back for the second is outrageous