Match Report: Notts County 0 Huddersfield Town 3

Aug 9 2010 By Doug Thomson

CAN the season end here please?

Two clinical finishes by Anthony Pilkington and a close-range flick by Jordan Rhodes put Town at the top of the pile after day one of the new League One campaign.

Of course it’s very early days, the only table which really matters will be that after Town host Brentford in game 46 on May 7 – and there are likely to be an awful lot of twists and turns between now and then.

But as a statement of intent, this was pretty strongly worded, and if Lee Clark’s men can produce 45 more performances like this, then the fans will surely be celebrating in 10 months’ time.

Talking of fans, full marks to the 3,161 travelling contingent in a 10,342 crowd at Meadow Lane.

Taking up the bulk of a touchline stand and forming a wall of blue and white, they set the tone for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon before kick-off by unfurling a giant flag and belting out a rousing rendition of the ‘Yorkshireman’ chant which has become something of a cult classic.

They had to wait a while to celebrate. After Gary Roberts and Joey Gudjonsson were both unsuccessful with edge-of-the-area free-kicks Joe Garner then dinked a shot just wide after being put through one-on-one with keeper Rob Burch thanks to a lovely Roberts’ pass. There was the worry that Town’s total domination of the opening stages wouldn’t be reflected by the scoreline.

But then the home defence was breached twice in four minutes – and Town never looked back as they eased to a first win in six visits to Meadow Lane.

Both first-half goals originated from throw-ins, the first by left-back Gary Naysmith in the 32nd minute.