Huddersfield Town 4 Peterborough United 1: Joe Taylor-inspired Terriers show their ruthless side in final quarter
ON A day when there was plenty of talk about reconciliation with family as Prince Harry hit the headlines - not for the first time - Huddersfield Town were at least safe in the knowledge that there was rather more harmony between themselves and their supporters once again.
The healing process has been due in no small part to the work of Martin Drury and his staff and players.
After a love-in following Town’s best result and performance of the season on Saturday - the devout hope was that it would continue against Peterborough United, the first part of a home double-header at the Accu Stadium. And it did, belatedly.
One of the main reasons for that rekindled affection has been the form of Derensili Sanches Fernandes.
On the night, Town’s golden boy was fairly quiet by his standards. His mate on the right in Ilias Bronkhorst saw his name in lights on this occasion, with his maiden strike for the club on three minutes, covering following a brilliant free-kick from former Peterborough midfielder Archie Collins.
Despite not hitting the heights of their stellar showing in Plymouth, Town - and Posh old boy Joe Taylor in the second half of the second half, for sure – would burst into life.
Just as there was in the home game with Oxford United last month when he also registered a quick-fire double.
Town’s lead was slender and Posh were pushing. Taylor added a much-needed second on 66 minutes.
He was far too quick for ex-Terriers loanee Josh Feeney after substitute Ethan Williams' dodgy blind pass inside put Posh in a bit of bother.
Taylor hared away and finished tidily.
Posh’s own top man up front in Harry Leonard ensured the visitors were not going away quietly, with an equally precise finish.
No matter. Taylor soon steered home Town’s third - and his eighth of the campaign - after a superb low cross from impressive sub Marcus Harness.
Town could relax and Bali Mumba’s maiden goal on home soil after clever work from Fernandes applied the gloss.
Sixteen places separated these teams ahead of kick-off - with Town well placed in third and Posh down in 19th - but it didn’t stop both bosses in Drury and Robbie Savage speaking about their teams showing a relentless and ruthless side.
Town had the best possible start with an early opener.
Their confidence going forward on a surface made all the slicker by some rain in the build-up to kick-off was there to see at intermittent intervals - but there was no second goal. And you wanted more.
Being the clear perfectionist he is, Drury didn't see the ruthlessness he wanted in front of goal, despite the hosts creating several good chances. That would have to wait.
Fernandes showed his dancing feet at times and there was some clever work down the right with Bronkhorst, making Posh look wary. The pressure wasn’t sustained.
Some indecision from Peterborough keeper Alex Bass, who almost patted a Cameron Humphreys corner into his own net, should have further emboldened Town.
But after a presentable opening spell, Huddersfield lost their way a little, particularly in the final 15 minutes against a young Posh side who came to play, in fairness and weren’t overawed.
The hosts made one change; Bojan Radulovic was not involved, presumably due to an issue of some sort. Ashley Fletcher took his place in the starting line-up.
Posh’s line-up featured six players aged 21 or under - including three teenagers.
The omens didn’t look good for the visitors after Bronkhurst struck on three minutes. It looked like being a long, old half.
Taylor prodded a good opportunity to make it 2-0 into the side-netting after being left at the far post following Bronkhorst's centre - despite having plenty of the goal to aim at.
Fernandes hinted at coming to the party and saw a shot blocked before Bronkhurst blazed an early opportunity over after being teed up by his former Excelsior team-mate.
All the while, Posh showed the occasional piece of neatness going forward and their best chance arrived late in the half, when a fine last-ditch block from Ibane Bowat denied Bolu Shofowoke after Harry Leonard inadvertently got in the way of Khela’s drive just beforehand.
It was a warning for Town; the interval arrived at a handy juncture. And their supporters kept with them.
That mindset crucially remained in the second period when their side struggled to get going and play became stodgy.
They were on their feet amid a fair bit of relief when Taylor added what looked like being a killer second midway through the half.
Town fans sang about promotion. Leonard ensured Posh had other ideas and momentarily quietened them. But Taylor put paid to that.
Posh still persisted, with Young making a key save at the feet of Leonard. Taylor got a third and a fourth arrived when Mumba struck after nifty play from Fernandes.
Huddersfield Town: Young, Bronkhorst, Low, Bowat, Roughan; Bronkhorst, Humphreys, Collins, Fernandes (Brierley 81), Taylor (Tovide 90), Mumba; Fletcher (Harness 62). Substitutes unused: Alnwick, Sorensen, Gooch, Ashia.
Peterborough United: Bass; Johnston, Mendonca, Feeney, Mills (Ormerod 61); Kelly, Khela (Ashfield 61); Shofowoke (Williams HT), Masara (Garbutt HT), Edwards (Frith 70); Leonard. Substitutes unused: Andeng-Ndi, Okagbue.
Referee: S Mather (Lancs).