Yorkshire Evening Post 14/2/09
Clarke header sinks Whites
By Phil Hay
Huddersfield Town 1 Leeds United 0
For the third time in succession, Huddersfield Town cut down Leeds United with a victory which may prove infinitely more precious than their previous two.
A Nathan Clarke header after only 16 minutes decided a predictably full-blooded West Yorkshire derby at the Galpharm Stadium and maintained Huddersfield's recent dominance of their nearby neighbours, fuelling their prospects of qualifying for League One's play-offs.
Six points behind sixth place before kick-off yesterday, the second derby of the season was one that Lee Clark, Huddersfield's manager, could not risk losing. How much value he would have seen in a draw is also debatable. In the end, Clarke's decisive finish secured a result of some importance.
Town's last two wins over Leeds – in April and November of last year – came at times when the club were heading in no discernible direction, but yesterday's win has the potential to begin the sequence of form that Clark requires to bridge carry Town into the play-offs at the end of the season.
Leeds played their part in an entertaining match and were left to rue missed opportunities in both halves – particularly the header from Richard Naylor which struck a post at the death.
But Simon Grayson's players were unable to pressurise Huddersfield into surrendering the lead given to them by centre-back Clarke.
While Huddersfield's manager celebrated one of the better results of his short managerial career, Grayson was forced to assess the damage of a defeat which undid the good work completed on Monday night when an ambitious Millwall team were beaten 2-0 by Leeds at Elland Road.
The promise of United's return to the top six went begging yesterday, much to his frustration.
The burning issue surrounding the match was the three-match suspension incurred by Jermaine Beckford, four days after his misdemeanour in Leeds' victory over Millwall.
The Football Association's insistence that the ban begin immediately estranged the striker from Grayson's squad, a scenario that United's manager had prepared himself for.
From the moment that Beckford was charged with violent conduct for hitting Millwall's David Forde with an elbow, it was clear that he would play no part at Huddersfield, and his ability to create goals from the merest of chances was missed by Leeds yesterday.
Luciano Becchio provided Grayson with a combative replacement, but the absence of Beckford cannot have disappointed Huddersfield's players and staff. He had been notable by his absence from United's starting line-up in the previous two games between the clubs, both of which were won by Town.
Clark felt confident enough about new signing Lukas Jutkiewicz, his recruit on loan from Everton, to blood the striker from the outset, and a positive start from his team was rewarded with a goal after 16 minutes.
A poor clearance from United captain Naylor saw Michael Collins force a corner with a low cross into Casper Ankergren's box, and Grayson's defenders were caught ball-watching as Clarke drove Gary Roberts' delivery into the net from close range.
Huddersfield had enjoyed the better of the game before then, though Leeds might easily have taken the lead 60 seconds before Clarke's header flashed beyond Ankergren.
Andy Robinson cut Town open with a long pass to Lee Trundle on the right wing, and the striker dinked an unselfish pass to Robert Snodgrass, who was unmarked inside the box. Snodgrass' shot lacked power and gave a relieved Alex Smithies the chance to clasp the ball to his chest.
The foray into Huddersfield's box was Leeds' only incisive attack in the opening 20 minutes of the game, though the hectic pace of the game did not lend itself to numerous early chances at either end.
Smithies was called upon to defended Town's lead with two fine saves in the space of a minute as Leeds responded swiftly to Clarke's effort.
The goalkeeper beat away a swerving shot from Robinson and produced an equally impressive parry when Rui Marques headed the resulting corner goalwards. Marques' chance was every bit as good as Clarke's, but Smithies' firm palm kept his clean sheet intact.
Snodgrass forced another opening in the 28th minute when he ran through Clarke and Robbie Williams before lashing the ball over Smithies' crossbar from a position where he should have examined the keeper properly. As he considered the scoreline at half-time, Grayson could hardly claim that his side had lacked opportunities to level Clarke's goal.
United's deficit would have been more severe, though, without the crucial block from Marques which prevented Jutkiewicz from turning a Roberts corner into the net from close range.
And Anthony Pilkington should have scored in the 44th minute when he freed himself from Naylor's clutches and drilled a header over the crossbar.
Clark made a change at the half-time break which was presumably enforced, replacing winger Lionel Ainsworth with Phil Jevons, and Roberts' switch to the left wing removed him from the more prominent attacking position in which he had caused Leeds constant problems in the opening 45 minutes.
Town's grip on possession weakened visibly at the start of a second half which Leeds controlled throughout, and United's pressure saw substitute Jonathan Howson – on for Andrew Hughes – glance an inviting cross from Jonathan Douglas wide of Smithies' right-hand post.
Smithies' diving save kept out a goalbound effort from Robinson on the hour, laid on by Snodgrass' corner.
And when the roles were reversed 12 minutes from time, Smithies' brilliant low block – the best of several saves which justified his man-of-the-match award – prevented Snodgrass from clipping Robinson's through-ball into the net.
Through 10 breathless minutes leading up to full-time, United harried Huddersfield's defence and saw Naylor's header strike the foot of Smithies' post.
But Grayson's players found every avenue barred by a club who have opened the door to the play-offs.
Clarke header sinks Whites
By Phil Hay
Huddersfield Town 1 Leeds United 0
For the third time in succession, Huddersfield Town cut down Leeds United with a victory which may prove infinitely more precious than their previous two.
A Nathan Clarke header after only 16 minutes decided a predictably full-blooded West Yorkshire derby at the Galpharm Stadium and maintained Huddersfield's recent dominance of their nearby neighbours, fuelling their prospects of qualifying for League One's play-offs.
Six points behind sixth place before kick-off yesterday, the second derby of the season was one that Lee Clark, Huddersfield's manager, could not risk losing. How much value he would have seen in a draw is also debatable. In the end, Clarke's decisive finish secured a result of some importance.
Town's last two wins over Leeds – in April and November of last year – came at times when the club were heading in no discernible direction, but yesterday's win has the potential to begin the sequence of form that Clark requires to bridge carry Town into the play-offs at the end of the season.
Leeds played their part in an entertaining match and were left to rue missed opportunities in both halves – particularly the header from Richard Naylor which struck a post at the death.
But Simon Grayson's players were unable to pressurise Huddersfield into surrendering the lead given to them by centre-back Clarke.
While Huddersfield's manager celebrated one of the better results of his short managerial career, Grayson was forced to assess the damage of a defeat which undid the good work completed on Monday night when an ambitious Millwall team were beaten 2-0 by Leeds at Elland Road.
The promise of United's return to the top six went begging yesterday, much to his frustration.
The burning issue surrounding the match was the three-match suspension incurred by Jermaine Beckford, four days after his misdemeanour in Leeds' victory over Millwall.
The Football Association's insistence that the ban begin immediately estranged the striker from Grayson's squad, a scenario that United's manager had prepared himself for.
From the moment that Beckford was charged with violent conduct for hitting Millwall's David Forde with an elbow, it was clear that he would play no part at Huddersfield, and his ability to create goals from the merest of chances was missed by Leeds yesterday.
Luciano Becchio provided Grayson with a combative replacement, but the absence of Beckford cannot have disappointed Huddersfield's players and staff. He had been notable by his absence from United's starting line-up in the previous two games between the clubs, both of which were won by Town.
Clark felt confident enough about new signing Lukas Jutkiewicz, his recruit on loan from Everton, to blood the striker from the outset, and a positive start from his team was rewarded with a goal after 16 minutes.
A poor clearance from United captain Naylor saw Michael Collins force a corner with a low cross into Casper Ankergren's box, and Grayson's defenders were caught ball-watching as Clarke drove Gary Roberts' delivery into the net from close range.
Huddersfield had enjoyed the better of the game before then, though Leeds might easily have taken the lead 60 seconds before Clarke's header flashed beyond Ankergren.
Andy Robinson cut Town open with a long pass to Lee Trundle on the right wing, and the striker dinked an unselfish pass to Robert Snodgrass, who was unmarked inside the box. Snodgrass' shot lacked power and gave a relieved Alex Smithies the chance to clasp the ball to his chest.
The foray into Huddersfield's box was Leeds' only incisive attack in the opening 20 minutes of the game, though the hectic pace of the game did not lend itself to numerous early chances at either end.
Smithies was called upon to defended Town's lead with two fine saves in the space of a minute as Leeds responded swiftly to Clarke's effort.
The goalkeeper beat away a swerving shot from Robinson and produced an equally impressive parry when Rui Marques headed the resulting corner goalwards. Marques' chance was every bit as good as Clarke's, but Smithies' firm palm kept his clean sheet intact.
Snodgrass forced another opening in the 28th minute when he ran through Clarke and Robbie Williams before lashing the ball over Smithies' crossbar from a position where he should have examined the keeper properly. As he considered the scoreline at half-time, Grayson could hardly claim that his side had lacked opportunities to level Clarke's goal.
United's deficit would have been more severe, though, without the crucial block from Marques which prevented Jutkiewicz from turning a Roberts corner into the net from close range.
And Anthony Pilkington should have scored in the 44th minute when he freed himself from Naylor's clutches and drilled a header over the crossbar.
Clark made a change at the half-time break which was presumably enforced, replacing winger Lionel Ainsworth with Phil Jevons, and Roberts' switch to the left wing removed him from the more prominent attacking position in which he had caused Leeds constant problems in the opening 45 minutes.
Town's grip on possession weakened visibly at the start of a second half which Leeds controlled throughout, and United's pressure saw substitute Jonathan Howson – on for Andrew Hughes – glance an inviting cross from Jonathan Douglas wide of Smithies' right-hand post.
Smithies' diving save kept out a goalbound effort from Robinson on the hour, laid on by Snodgrass' corner.
And when the roles were reversed 12 minutes from time, Smithies' brilliant low block – the best of several saves which justified his man-of-the-match award – prevented Snodgrass from clipping Robinson's through-ball into the net.
Through 10 breathless minutes leading up to full-time, United harried Huddersfield's defence and saw Naylor's header strike the foot of Smithies' post.
But Grayson's players found every avenue barred by a club who have opened the door to the play-offs.
