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Tranmere Rovers 1 Huddersfield Town 1: Frustrated Terriers left bruised after Prenton Park stalemate
ALAN LEE was left with stud marks on his torso after a high challenge from behind forced him off the field.
The Huddersfield Town striker, no shrinking violet, was left feeling sore – and angry – after Ian Goodison’s boot smashed into his hip.
The veteran Rovers defender went unpunished by referee Trevor Kettle but a report could go to the FA.
Lee, who only came on in the second half, had to be substituted himself after failing to run off the injury.
Afterwards Lee said: “The referee says he didn’t see it which is frustrating. If he saw it, it’s a red card.
“I think the referee needs help from his linesman. Decisions like that can change games. Goodison had a chance to score after that and he might not have been on the pitch. It looks like it’ll be reported to the FA and hopefully it will be dealt with that way.”
The injury to Lee and another to Danny Ward, though not serious, disrupted an already changed Town line-up, and the team never clicked into gear.
Boss Lee Clark dropped centre-back and captain Peter Clarke to give a debut to loan signing Sean Morrison while Damien Johnson returned in midfield after seven matches out, Danny Cadamarteri replaced the injured Gary Roberts out wide and Lee Novak started in place of Lee.
All those changes before and during the game resulted in a disjointed performance, with Town failing to create anything of note in the opening period.
Tranmere, without seven first-choice players through injury and with just one win in 12 games, were there for the taking.
But Town were anonymous in the first half and allowed the home side to grow in confidence.
Mustafa Tiryaki should have scored with only Ian Bennett to beat but sliced wide and Martin Devaney and Lucas Akins also squandered good chances.
Morrison, on loan from Reading, had Town’s first effort on goal just after the restart before Jordan Rhodes pounced to set them on their way.
Jack Hunt’s cross was deftly kept in by the hard-working Cadamarteri for Rhodes to claim his 29th of the season. He has now scored in seven of his last eight games.
The lead only lasted two minutes as a fleet-footed counter attack resulted in Adam McGurk planting a downward header past Bennett.
Town were forced to reshuffle when Ward, Novak and Lee were replaced and lacked much threat after that.
Bennett allowed a tame shot from Devaney to squirm through his fingers but turned to see it trickle wide.
Late on Lateef Elford-Alliyu was denied by a superb block from Tom Clarke and Bennett proved his worth by pouncing on Ryan Brunt’s powerful shot.
Highly-rated keeper Alex Smithies, out all season after knee surgery, was on the bench for the first time and Clark said: “He’s been outstanding all week in training.
“It’s like I’ve been given £4m or £5m to go and buy the best young goalkeeper in the country, which is a great boost.”
Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Hunt, McCombe, Morrison, Naysmith; Cadamarteri, Johnson, Gobern, Ward (T Clarke 50); Rhodes, Novak (Lee 62, Robinson 80). Unused substitutes: Smithies, Miller.
Tranmere Rovers: Rachubka; Holmes, Goodison, McChrystal, Buchanan; McGurk (Elford-Alliyu 74), Welsh, Wallace, Akins; Devaney (Brunt 85), Tiryaki. Unused substitutes: Weir, Taylor, Coughlin.
Referee: T M Kettle (Rutland)
Man of the match: Danny Cadamarteri.
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