FA Cup Fourth Round 25 January 2014

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v CHARLTON ATHLETIC

A day out in the Pennines for Round 4 and an all-championship tie that should give a competitive game between evenly matched sides. The John Smith’s Stadium is a convenient 20 minute walk from the station and is impressive both from the town and up close. Built into the hillside it is an all-seater with four matching steel arched stands separated by tripod legged floodlight pylons at each corner.

The weather is damp and cool with blustery, wintry showers forecast, but the pitch looks in very good condition, particularly to one more used to non-league grounds.

The attendance is quite good with home fans responding to the £10 (£5 concessions) offer, so both touchline stands are quite full with the areas behind the goals less so, particularly at the away end. Flag waving youngsters greet the players, Huddersfield in (a bit paler than traditional?) blue and white stripes; and Charlton in familiar all red.

Huddersfield take the game to Charlton early on and miss chances to take the lead with midfielders Norwood and Gobern heading over and shooting wide respectively. Norwood gets another opportunity in the box but his shot is well parried by goalkeeper Hamer, who then gets up quickly to dive on the loose ball.

Charlton full back Evina is gets on the wrong end of a couple of hefty tackles and team mate Stephens soon exacts retribution on Huddersfield winger Hammill, for which he is booked. Both Evina and Hammill limp out of the game shortly after, however Huddersfield’s loss looks the greater as the winger had been an attacking threat, swinging over dangerous crosses from the right.

Scoreless at half time is good news for Charlton who have been content to sit back and provide the odd ball forward for the nippy pairing of Sordell and Harriott to chase down; so far the bigger Huddersfield defenders (including the other Gerrard brother) have coped and keeper Smithies has been untroubled. The home team have played some neat stuff with Norwood and Gobern running midfield, Vaughan effective as a target man up front, and Ward and Hammill (until his exit) providing width; however the goal threat has been minimal.

Early in the second half a good run forward by Charlton full back Wilson has the home defence backpedalling, and when he releases the ball to Church on the edge of the box the Charlton striker gathers it up, takes it a pace or two to the right before angling a cross shot just inside the far post, to give the visitors an unlikely lead.

The goal seems pivotal; Charlton suddenly look interested while the confidence drains from Huddersfield. Even the weather has turned nasty with driving rain or hail for a while. Home manager Mark Robins responds by taking off Sinnott (who came on for Hammill but has looked out of his depth) and bringing on the more experienced Scannell.

The crowd murmur its approval, and no wonder as Scannell quickly roasts defenders out on the right and provides opportunities, first for Smith who shoots over, then for Ward who hits it wide. Next time Scannell dribbles into the box he has a go himself and at least forces a save and earns a corner.

Robins next throws on Holmes, a young American midfielder (featured in the programme) who is also welcomed by the fans as an exciting if unpredictable talent, and he helps put Charlton further onto the back foot. However Huddersfield’s relentless attacking gives some space at the back and a quick Charlton break puts Stephens through on goal, only to shoot wide.

Most of the action is at the other though end with Holmes working well on the right (at the expense of Scannell who has moved, less effectively, to the left).  As he prepares to take a corner his taller colleagues gather in a scrum-like huddle on the penalty spot in an attempt to confuse and foil the marking Charlton defenders; it almost works as the corner passes dangerously along the six yard line but without anyone getting a touch.

Five minutes from the end Holmes’ pace takes him through the centre and as Hamer races from his goal the youngster toe pokes just wide of the goal. For the remaining minutes, including four added, Huddersfield send in high balls but Charlton deal with them comfortably and hold on for the win.

It is a result scarcely deserved for Charlton’s general play, but their only strike on goal was good enough to beat their opponent’s keeper whereas all Huddersfield’s good build up play only produced a couple of shots on target and they were dealt with by the keeper.

So A Good Cup Run will not be back to the John Smith’s Stadium again this season, no matter how enjoyable this visit was and how family-friendly the fans were, noteworthy for their refreshing absence of foul language, even in defeat.