FIVE STAR RHODES in SIX GOAL BONANZA

HUDDERSFIELD Town got back to winning ways with a thumping six nil away victory at Wycombe Wanderers in front of the Sky Sports camera’s.

Rhodes had earlier been named the nPower League One player of the month for December and he went some way to staking his claim for the January gong.

Lee Novak had Town’s first meaningful effort of the game that ‘keeper Bull did well to turn round the post for a corner however…

From the resulting corner Oscar Gobern got Town off and running with a powerful header from a wicked Gary Roberts corner on 10 minutes, something that we perhaps should see more often.

It was evident from the opening 10 minutes that Town had come to play football and despite a few wayward passes they were soon all hitting their targets as Wycombe looked powerless to stop a rampant looking Huddersfield team.

It was only 9 minutes before Town doubled the lead and the Jordan Rhodes show took off with a bang.

The Scottish striker netted his 23rd goal of the season following a fine cross from Jack Hunt after nipping infront of the centre back and poking the ball home.

Town should have made it three in the 24th minute when Novak flicked the ball into the path for Roberts who raced through on goal. The left-winger steadied himself before chipping the ball just over Bull’s bar.

Rhodes then doubled his tally and took Town to three before the break with a goal on 26 minutes that really showed his maturity as a player.

He muscled on-loan Peterborough defender Grant Basey off the ball and had the composure to then slip the ball under onrushing ‘keeper Nikki Bull.

Town looked like they would score at will and it was perhaps a surprise that Wycombe held out until half time.

HALF TIME: Wycombe 0-3 Huddersfield.

Huddersfield started the second half as they ended the first on the front foot and the first meaningful action saw Rhodes pounce on 49 minutes to seal his hat-trick.

Town received a helping “pass” from ref Steve Tanner as his ball fell neatly to Novak who played Rhodes through, the striker saw his initial effort saved but the rebound fell kindly and he slotted into an empty net for his fifth hat-trick of the season. Impressive.

Wycombe defender Leon Johnson suffered an injury after colliding with ‘keeper Bull in the build up to that goal and was replaced by Marvin McCoy.

Rhodes then profited from a Danny Ward strike on 58minutes as keeper Bull could only push the powerful strike out to the feet of Rhodes and there really was only one outcome.

Huddersfield completed their scoring and Rhodes grabbed an astonishing fifth in the 69th minute. Good interplay between Rhodes and the impressive Ward saw the winger released down the left hand side where he whipped in a wicked low cross and Rhodes sneaked in ahead of the desperate defender to poach his 5th goal of the night.

Remarkably that was the scoring done as Town started to toy with Wycombe by calmly passing the ball around the defence and midfield and looking to hit Rhodes with neat balls up-field.

Wycombe finished the game with a few late efforts the most dangerous being Gareth Ainsworth;s cross being deflected by the wind onto Bennett’s post, who had pretty much 90 minutes off tonight!

FULL TIME Wycombe 0-6 Huddersfield.

WYCOMBE: Bull, Foster, Johnson (McCoy 53), Tunnicliffe, Basey, Grant, Lewis, Bloomfield, McNamee (Ainsworth 63), Trotta (Halls 63), Beavon.

Unused-Subs: Strevens, Harris.

Booked: Halls (78 mins).

HUDDERSFIELD: Bennett, Hunt, Naysmith, P.Clarke, McCombe, Ward (T.Clarke 89), Gobern, Miller, Roberts (Cadamarteri 75), Rhodes, Novak.

Unused Subs: Colgan, Lee, Robinson.

Booked: None.

Attendance: 4,465.

Player Ratings

Ian Bennett 7

Complete passenger – what he had to do he did well. nearly caught out with a wind deflected Ainsworth cross hitting the post!
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Jack Hunt 8

The divisions most progressive full back as described on the Sky commentary – not far off the money – great crossing ability on show yet again
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Peter Clarke (c) 7

Solid but never really tested defensively – was out-muscled by Beavon late on but his shot went wide.
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Jamie McCombe 7

Good solid return from his loan – should have scored in the first half.
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Gary Naysmith 7

Experience showed, got done once in first half by McNamee
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Oscar Gobern 8

Great goal – expect to see more of them.
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Tommy Miller 8

Solid as ever
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Danny Ward 8

Wardy is back… set up Rhodes, nearly scored himself and some good crossing ability on display tonight.
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Gary Roberts 8

Corner delivery have improved massively – unlucky not to score on two occasions himself.
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Lee Novak 9

Deserved a goal – simply worked his socks off.
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Jordan Rhodes 10

What can I say – FIVE Goals…
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Danny Cadamarteri

coming on and struggled to get into the already easily won game.
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Tom Clarke

Slotted in at right back but no real time to make any impact – did have one dodgy clearance in the box at the end that nearly presented Wycombe a chance.
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Manager Rating

Lee Clark – A game that he would have wanted to have an impressive display, and he certainly got it. Well Done. Now onto the next as we must climb the table again.
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Opponent Rating

Gary Waddock – Just doesn’t do so well against Huddersfield. Perhaps he should have made some changes at Half Time, he will face a test to pick his players up after a crushing home defeat.
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Lee Clark speaking to HTAFC.com

” Tonight’s performance was sensational,” commented Clark. “It could have been double figures without being disrespectful to Wycombe.

“We have been excellent in our recent games – attacking wise we have been brilliant, but we have made individual errors. We have scored 12 goals in our last three away games.”

“We stopped Wycombe gaining any territory. We didn’t allow them to push us back and held a very good line. We looked solid and when we cleared our lines, we cleared the ball over their back four forcing them to turn. In attack we showed great movement and pace and delivered the ball superbly.”
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Lee Clark on Rhodes

“I want them to come every week, because Jordan is buzzing off it. He is absolutely flying – so the more the merrier. I am 100% confident that he won’t be going anywhere – I trust the Owner. He has told me and he has spoke to Jordan, and he has looked the Chairman in his eye and said that he wants to finish off the season with Huddersfield Town, irrespective of what happens.

“He is destined to play at the very top level and reap the rewards that come with that. In terms of his finishing he is up there with Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole; obviously he hasn’t done it at the level that they have, but he has started playing international football. When the ball is in the area he finishes as well as any striker that I have ever played with. As well as his finishing, Jordan’s general play is superb – no one can handle him at the moment. Even when he doesn’t score he creates goals for other players. He is very rarely caught off side, because his movement is that of a very high standard.

“I knew what I was bringing to the Club when I signed him. In the future I am sure that I will feel privileged to have worked with him, just like I do at the moment when I see Anthony Pilkington scoring and creating goals for Norwich. Also, Lee Peltier is doing fantastic things for Leicester. I hope Jordan will stay with Huddersfield, but I will certainly be watching him – whether it is from the dugout with Huddersfield or from the TV – plying his trade in the Premier League.”
He is definitely not going anywhere in January.
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