City slipped out of the Vertu Trophy on a cold night that never quite caught fire, undone by a familiar face who once lit up the Bank in very different colours.
On the back of the win this weekend against Port Vale, City were up against a different type of challenge. Joe Taylor, Sean Roughan and Lasse Sorensen lined up opposite, as did stalwarts of the division such as Alfie May and Marcus Harness. This isn’t a night to bleat on about budgets and levels, but tomorrow, after a sleep when I have a little more focus, it might be something I raise.
This was always going to be a different type of test from Port Vale. Nine changes, a patched-up bench and an evening shaped by opportunity as much as progression. Reeco Hackett kept his place after Saturday’s winner against Port Vale, with Erik Ring, Ivan Varfolomeev and Dexter Lembikisa among those stepping in.
City started poorly, barely having a touch inside the first five minutes, with Huddersfield’s expensively assembled side looking capable of securing a routine win. Talk of Ben House on crutches in the fan zone didn’t help the mood, and that worsened as James Collins limped off after 15 minutes, forcing Freddie Draper into the action and Hamer into the captain’s role.
Hackett, Ring and Varfolomeev all started with purpose, but one or two looked rusty. Dexter Lembikisa, likely appearing for the final time for City, looked unsure in possession, while Rob Street saw very little of the ball. The white shirts of Huddersfield seemed an inch quicker at times, and the quality of their squad certainly shone through.
Huddersfield bossed the early moments, but as City got into gear, it became a more even contest. The early flurry of chances for the visitors slowed, and the best opening of the half fell to Draper, who reacted sharply when a Hamer throw caused chaos, only to see Lee Nicholls spread himself to keep it level.
The game was punctuated, as ever, by some weak referee decisions. Ben Speedie seemed intent on either missing big moments or making big moments from nothing. He missed a stonewall penalty shout for Huddersfield in the opening five minutes, and seemed hell bent on giving them everything after that. Freddie Draper, pulled from pillar to post, certainly felt more than aggrieved, not least for a first-half booking that came as a result of him trying to connect with a cross.
Draper’s miss was a big moment, and it felt even bigger when the second half began with Huddersfield capitalising on their first real spell of pressure. Ryley Towler was adjudged to have fouled Taylor, but it looked weaker than an all-inclusive package holiday cocktail. Speedie will be disappointed, not just because it wasn’t a foul, but because it led directly to the goal. Roughan (obviously) delivered deep, Alfie May nodded back across goal and Taylor, in the sort of position he thrived in during his time here, prodded in from close range.
From the defender’s point of view, ignoring the decision, it wasn’t a good goal to concede at all.
Huddersfield threatened much more. Zach Jeacock kept City alive with a terrific reaction stop as May unloaded a couple of shots in quick succession. Under the cosh, Skubala rolled the dice, sending on Jack Moylan and Frankie Okoronkwo. Moylan almost found the bottom corner with a crisp strike, and City should have levelled late on when a Hackett corner dropped kindly in the box. Okoronkwo’s first effort was blocked by a teammate, and his second flew over.
The final act came in stoppage time, adding a gloss to the scoreline that, in all honesty, the Terriers’ performance deserved. Wallace rose highest from a set piece and powered a header in, ending any lingering hope of a late surge.
After losing to nil against a promotion favourite at home in the competition last season, this evening had a familiar feel, perhaps. Huddersfield go on in the competition, and once again, we head into Christmas with our focus 100% on the league. However, the full impact of the evening will only be felt once we get the injury update on Collins, and any fears around Ben House are confirmed.