Colchester United 0 Huddersfield Town 3: Town are now firmly back on track for promotion

A far more pressing concern, however, for Huddersfield Town than possible delays ahead of Saturday's visit was that their season seemed to be fast approaching a crossroads.

Three straight defeats in League One had seen the Terriers slip from top spot to 11th and another reverse against a side boasting one of the only two remaining unbeaten records in the Football League this term would have really set the alarm bells ringing.

Instead, first-half goals from Lee Novak and Anthony Pilkington plus an opportunistic late strike by Jordan Rhodes averted any such threat as Town got back on track in impressive fashion.

Even the dismissal of substitute Lee Croft eight minutes from time could not derail Lee Clark's side as they leapt back into the play-off places.

If that was not enough to send the 300 or so Town fans home in buoyant mood, it is worth noting that the only three sides to leave the Weston Homes Stadium with all three points last season went on to win promotion to the Championship.

The potential significance of Town's first win at Colchester's new home in three attempts was not lost on midfielder Joey Gudjonsson. He said: "This win might prove to be very important as it should help push us on. We got three goals and kept a clean sheet against a good team.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. But we feel we have talented players with a bit of experience.

"This is a really tough league but we believe in what we are doing. We had a bit of a blip last week, though that is all it was – a blip.

"We have a lot of talented players in this squad and we showed that against Colchester. Our three goals were very good.

"We stuck to our task and our game-plan worked. Three goals away from home is always brilliant but it made it even better that we kept a clean sheet, even when down to 10 men.

"We are all in this together – players, coaching staff, physio, everyone. It is a very strong group."

The manner of Town's display certainly offered plenty of encouragement for the rest of the season.

At the back, after an initially sticky start when Clark admits his tweaking of formation back-fired, Huddersfield were solid.

Kem Izzett did hit the crossbar with an effort just after the break when Colchester trailed 2-0.

Ian Bennett also had to save at full-stretch in the closing stages after Liam Henderson had cut inside from the right and unleashed a ferocious shot from 25 yards.

But, those two long-range efforts apart, Colchester never looked like getting back into the game once the visitors had gone ahead through Novak on 34 minutes.

The Town striker showed great awareness to seize on a loose pass from Mooney and race forward to drill a 20-yard effort that flew beyond Ben Williams in the home goal.

It was just reward for not only a lively display by Novak but also the way in which he had earlier been denied a certain goal when Ashley Vincent handled on the line – an offence referee Pat Miller and his linesmen somehow missed.

Once ahead through Novak's first goal of the season, Town continued to set the pace and it was a wonderful sweeping move that led to the doubling of their advantage.

Once again, sloppy play and marking by Colchester allowed Town the space to work the ball through midfield.

After that, however, it was all about the quality of the visitors as Pilkington swept the ball to Novak before racing forward to collect a sublime return pass.

Then, as Williams came off his line, Pilkington showed tremendous poise to roll the ball beyond the U's goalkeeper and into the net.

Town had to wait until 12 minutes from time for their third goal, but once again it was worth the wait as Rhodes showed his predatory instinct to drill a shot beyond Williams after latching on to another Colchester mistake.

It meant even the late dismissal of Croft after incurring a second yellow card when mis-timing a challenge on Tom Williams could not ruin the visitors' afternoon as Colchester were well and truly beaten.

Perhaps the last word, therefore, should go to U's manager John Ward, who made a point of waiting behind after the final whistle to sportingly shake every Huddersfield player's hand as they left the field.

The former York chief said: "We were beaten by the better team. Huddersfield are the best side we have faced this season."

Goalscorers Novak and Pilkington were withdrawn during the second half as a precaution after picking up knocks.

MATCH FACTS

Hero: Lee Novak

On for less than an hour but quite an afternoon as he scored one, created another with a sublime pass and also saw a goalbound shot blocked by a blatant handball.

Villain: Pat Miller

The referee must have been the only man inside the Weston Homes Stadium not to spot that Ashley Vincent, pictured, had handled Lee Novak's goalbound shot.

Key moment

42nd minute. A sweeping move saw Anthony Pilkington exchange passes with Novak before finishing neatly past Ben Williams to put Town into a two-goal lead.

Ref watch

Pat Miller: Had little option but to send off Lee Croft but let down an otherwise decent display by somehow missing the handball that kept out Novak's shot.

Verdict

Following on from the midweek JP Trophy win over Peterborough, this was a hugely encouraging win and performance from Lee Clark's Huddersfield.

Quote of the day

We're just too good for you.

– the accurate assessment of the 300 Huddersfield Town fans who made the long trip to Essex as their side ended one of just two unbeaten records in the Football League.

Next game

Huddersfield Town v Southampton, Saturday, October 16, League One, 3.0pm.