Match Report: Huddersfield Town 4 Boro 2

Boro were blown away by a whirlwind start to the second half from Huddersfield Town.

Michael Carrick’s side controlled the first half and were leading through a Marcus Forss goal before the relegation-threatened home side stunned Boro by scoring three goals inside the first 15 minutes of the second period to turn the scoreline around.

Neil Warnock’s men added a fourth to the tally and despite a late finale from Boro, that included a goal by Chuba Akpom, it wasn’t to be.

It was the home side who had the first sight of goal but Darragh Lenihan read the game terrifically to deny Josh Koroma a certain opener with a clearance on the line.

Boro were dominating all the early possession though, and Paddy McNair had a shot blocked from one set-piece before Chuba Akpom headed the resultant corner wide of the mark.

The home side were defending with 10 men behind the ball from inside the first 20 minutes and the mass of bodies denied Aaron Ramsey when he looked to finish off a good passage of play.

More good play saw Akpom denied on the line by two Huddersfield bodies and Ramsey had a shot smothered by Tomas Vaclik. Forss won a corner after being denied and Cameron Archer lifted a shot over the bar when the ball was swung in by Ryan Giles.

Ramsey was next to try his luck, firstly with a shot which went wide of the post before another effort which went over the top.

The next shot on goal was from Lenihan, who skidded one wide, as Boro continued to look for the goal their superiority deserved.

Huddersfield’s resistance was finally broken shortly before half-time when Forss finished off an incisive break forward with a great strike.

It was just 22 seconds into the second half when Huddersfield drew level. Josh Ruffles took advantage with a mazy run through the Boro defence before finishing off with a good strike which left Zack Steffen with no chance.

Boro hadn’t started the second half at all, and the home side were in front within 10 minutes when Koroma found the space to convert after more good play by Huddersfield.

Moments later, Tommy Smith was in the right place at the right time when Koroma delivered a cross into the six-yard box with one of his teammates waiting to convert.

But Huddersfield made it three from the resultant corner when, as every little thing continued to fall for them, Matty Pearson got his knee on the end of a knock-down to send the John Smith’s Stadium into raptures.

Boro almost reduced the arrears immediately, but Ramsey’s ball narrowly eluded an advancing Akpom.

It was Huddersfield who scored again, though, with 25 minutes still remaining, Pearson grabbing his second of the afternoon.

Again, Boro almost replied immediately, Vaclik denying Smith with a fingertip save, but a second did come, when Akpom headed home a Riley McGree cross with 16 minutes left on the clock.

That was the cue for a siege by luckless Boro, who still showed a real belief that something could be salvaged from the contest.

Akpom headed wide and also fired at Vaclik as Carrick’s men battled valiantly, but Huddersfield squandered a chance to finish the game when Jack Rudoni sent a shot just wide after a quick break.

As the clock started to tick down, the home side their best to slow things and despite six extra minutes time eventually ran out on any hope of a dramatic comeback.