Huddersfield Away Drew 0 – 0

Posted on September 2, 2017 by John Smith

Following a midweek cup defeat, Saints returned to their starters from the last league game for their first away trip – to Huddersfield. After a cagey opening from both sides, the visitors had the first opportunity but Redmond shot wide from a great position after being set up by Davis. That, though, was as good as it got for Saints in a first half where they failed to cope with the energy shown by the newly promoted side. I am as baffled by Forster’s omission from the latest England squad as I am by the criticism he gets from some sectors of our support, and we had him to thank for keeping the scores level: he needed to be both brave and strong when scooping LaParra’s cross away from Mounié and then made a fine save to keep out a cross shot by Ince that bounced just in front of him. He also did well to deny Kachunga but this situation was all of his own making, having dived in a failed attempt to gather Löwe’s cross. Saints must have done something clever tactically at the break as they stopped Mooy running the game for Huddersfield and even had an on target shot at goal on 50 minutes. Substitutions that replaced Lemina and Gabbiadini didn’t seem right at the time but maybe they also contributed to a strong finish as the home team tired and didn’t seem to have replacements of the required calibre. Ward-Prowse could have done better when put clear, Redmond should have done better when he tried to be too deliberate in attempting to beat Lössl, but deep into added time Betrand had the best chance to win it; he concentrated on getting his header from Long’s cross past Lössl but it lacked the pace to prevent getting Smith back to clear – thus a point away to the joint league leaders felt like two dropped instead. It was certainly better than our two League One visits to this oft-renamed stadium when we’re were second best throughout.
LSSC Man of the Match: Steven Davis, putting in a solid shift that was effective at both ends of the pitch.