Town suffer the Blues at Oldham

Oumare Tounkara’s third goal of the season, on 24 minutes, was enough to hand Oldham all three points in the clash of the white and red rose this afternoon

Huddersfield failed to spark into life despite an incredible away following of 3,665, and created only two efforts on target the entire game.

The first half was pretty dire as a Town fan, with an early penalty appeal by captain Peter Clark being ignored by referee Hooper on 11 minutes.

It was all that was really worth noting from Town in the first half as Oldham dominated and the main surprise was that they failed to add to their one goal!

Tounkara netted the only goal after 24 minutes of an increasingly one-sided opening period he was released by Dean Furman, the striker’s first effort was saved by Ian Bennett but he was first to the rebound to slot home.

Anthony Pilkington was lost before half time in what looked like a re-occurrence of the hamstring injury he was carrying before the game.

Town were happy to hear the half time whistle but things weren’t much better in the second half with ‘keeper Bennett keeping Oldham out with numerous saves.

Town pressed for an equaliser and did manage some pressure towards the end but much like at The Cambridge game it was too little too late, with funnily enough next Tuesdays opponents being Cambridge at The Galpharm!

Town’s Team (4-4-2):

Ian Bennett; Liam Ridehalgh, Peter Clarke (c), Antony Kay, Lee Peltier; Graham Carey (Gary Roberts, 65), Joey Gudjonsson, Damien Johnson, Anthony Pilkington (Scott Arfield, 38); Jordan Rhodes (Alan Lee, 45), Benik Afobe

Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Joe Garner, Jamie McCombe, Chris Atkinson

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Player Ratings

Ian Bennett 7
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Lee Peltier 5
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Liam Ridehalgh 5
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Peter Clarke (c) 5
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Antony Kay 5
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Damien Johnson 5
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Joey Gudjonsson 4
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Graham Carey 5
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Anthony Pilkington 5
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Jordan Rhodes 4
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Benik Afobe 4
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Scott Arfield 5
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Gary Roberts 6.5
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and on Arfield and Roberts return
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Lee Clark speaking to htafc.com
“Certainly Oldham deserved to be one up at half time, possibly even more”

“The goalkeeper saved it from being a bit of a wider margin. The ten outfield players didn’t get going at all, we lost all our individual battles and when you loose ten out of ten you’re always going to be up against it. The goalie kept it down to one-nil and I said to them at half time that that was the plus point.”

“We up’d the tempo a little bit without being brilliant in the second half but still didn’t test their goalkeeper enough, and overall you could say it was a fair result.

“I think some of Alan Lee’s play was good but I want more from him. Him and Joe Garner need to prove themselves and they need to do that by scoring goals to take the pressure off the young lads.

“We’re dissapointed with everything on a whole, very dissapointed.”


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on Pilkington’s Injury
“Anthony Pilkington’s trained yesterday and he was really positive. He passed his fitness test with flying colours but I new straight away which is why I brought him off. It’s a shame and we’ll have to get it investigated a little more and it’s very frustrating for us and him.


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and on Arfield and Roberts return
“I thought Scott Arfield did well today and he could have counted himself unlucky that he didn’t start. He’s putting real pressure on to play and thought he was definately a plus point, him and Gary Roberts who showed some good touches.

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