Novak Sucks Life Out of Blades


Sheffield United 0-3 Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield Town’s impressive unbeaten start to the season continued as they inflicted defeat on Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson for the first time.

Lee Novak’s first half double effectively settled this hotly contested Yorkshire derby after only 37 minutes before Oscar Gobern’s header wrapped things up for the Terriers.

Lee Clark’s men, in particular Danny Ward, were responsible for seeing that this pulsating match up, played at a frenetic pace, was effectively over as a contest before half time.

Forward Novak bagged the first of his brace after just 20 minutes courtesy of Steve Simonsen’s misjudgement. Ward’s well struck shot from 20 yards seemed to move in the blustery Sheffield air, and as a result, Novak was on hand to take full advantage of the ‘keeper’s lax parry.

The Blades – who are joint leaders of League 1 on goal difference – could have restored parity had Chris Porter shown more composure from six yards as he flashed Matty Lowton’s low drive wide. It proved a turning point.

Barely a minute later and the influential Ward saw his corner hooked back in to the path of Novak who doubled his – and the team’s tally - by sweeping past Simonsen.

Two minutes later and another corner saw Ward as the architect. His inswinger was met by the head of midfielder Gobern who rose highest to nod home six minutes before the interval.

Veteran striker Alan Lee, who proved to be a constant thorn in United’s defence “gave the Blades a lesson” according to Danny Wilson and was unlucky not to grab a deserved goal. Firstly his goalbound header was cleared off the line before a 30 yard rocket grazed the roof of the net.

From the 60th minute however, it turned in to the ‘Ian Bennett show’. The former Bramall Lane ‘keeper, who was aided by block after block from his defence, made a host of saves from substitutes Ched Evans – in particular a glorious one on one opportunity, and later Kevin McDonald.

When Lowton thundered a shot wide from 18 yards, the Terriers who are undefeated in 33 games saw their fans sing “we are unbeatable” as Wilson’s men went with their tails between their legs for the first time.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Collins, Maguire, Williams, Doyle (c), Flynn (Mendez-Laing 72), Williamson (McDonald 46), Quinn, Cresswell, Porter (Evans 46)

Huddersfield Town: Bennett, Hunt, Kay, McCombe, Woods, Arfield (Robinson 68), Johnson, Gobern, Ward, Lee, Novak (Rhodes 71)

Att: 17373

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