Match report: Huddersfield Town 1 - 0 Peterborough United

Feb 2 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SCRAPPY game was settled by a super strike.

Michael Collins counted for the seventh time this season as Town collected a crucial three points and avenged their heaviest defeat of the campaign, 4-0 at Peterborough back in October.

Little was seen of Darren Ferguson’s side as an attacking force in a first half in which Town’s dominance was underlined by their 35th-minute goal.

But Posh, who were third going into the game, looked the part after the break, and it took a solid defensive display and a couple of top-class saves by Alex Smithies, again being scouted by a string of Premier League clubs as well as Celtic and Rangers, to seal a welcome first clean sheet in six games.

Boss Lee Clark kept faith with Anthony Pilkington in place of the suspended Gary Roberts, and handed a full debut to another transfer window signing, Lionel Ainsworth, with Keigan Parker dropping to the bench.

There was also a first appearance for Dominik Werling, whose 60th-minute introduction, in place of Ainsworth, was unexpectedly as a midfielder rather than a left-back as the manager tried to put a halt to the visitors’ pressure.

There were no such worries before the break as Posh created only one real opportunity, a 17th-minute attack which came with Town defender Andy Holdsworth down injured.

Rather than put the ball into touch, George Boyd continued down the left and his cross found Chris Whelpdale, whose shot was turned for a corner by Smithies.