What is it about Doncaster Rovers, and the Keepmoat Stadium in particular?
Not since August 2005, when Chris Brandon and Jon Worthington earned a 2-1 win, have Town got the better of the South Yorkshire side.
Eight games have come – and gone – since, with four draws, and now four defeats.
And at the Keepmoat, where Town were the first-ever visitors on New Year’s Day 2007, there have been no goals, never mind victories.
Leagues positions, and last week’s results, certainly weren’t reflected in his meeting.
While Town beat Barnsley 5-0 seven days earlier, Rovers slumped by the same scoreline at Bournemouth.
They knew points were vital in the battle against relegation – and their performance reflected that.
Nothing fancy, just commitment, organisation and a desire to deny Town time and space.
Mark Robins’ men once again conceded from a set-piece, on-loan Southampton striker Billy Sharp poaching the opener from David Cotterill’s corner.
And while there were chances to level, with Anthony Gerrard’s header cleared off the line late in the first half before on-loan Manchester United keeper Sam Johnstone thwarted Paul Dixon then Nahki Wells early in the second, there seemed little chance of comeback after Cotterill steered home Mark Duffy’s cross.
With more than half an hour remaining after Rovers’ second goal, it was disappointing for an excellent 2,831-strong travelling turn-out that Town went down with more of a whimper than a fight.
Doncaster had something precious to defend, and they did it with the minimum of fuss.
The only frustration for them was that the bulk of their rivals at the wrong end of the table also won.
The outcome was to leave Charlton, in weekend FA Cup action, bottom of the table going into Wednesday’s clash with Town.
That means Chris Powell’s men will be just as desperate as Doncaster were to collect three points.
Going by the pattern of the the last six games, Town are due a victory at The Valley.
But they will need to find a big improvement, better creation of chances, and a more telling touch in front of goal.
Other than the three efforts already described, the only other real chance fell to substitute Martin Paterson, and his shot was held comfortably enough by Johnson.
Paterson had replaced Danny Ward in a half-time change as Robins switched from four to three at the back (Sean Scannell and Joe Lolley were later introduced, but with minimal impact).
Paterson had spoken of his desire for more minutes on the pitch at club level, whether with Town or elsewhere, in the wake of Northern Ireland’s goalless draw in Cyprus last midweek.
He certainly looked up for the challenge, as did midfielder Keith Southern, who kept his place as Robins kept faith with the starting side which saw off Barnsley.
Wells also worked hard without getting too much service, but there were simply too many Town players too far off the pace.
Neither Ward nor Adam Hammill made much of things either side of Wells, while both Ollie Norwood, like Paterson back from international duty in Cyprus, and Adam Clayton were ineffective.
And Gerrard, who had a spat with Gabriel Tamas after being caught by the Romanian defender just before the break, and Murray Wallace had a tough time dealing with brawny frotnman Chris Brown as Rovers ruled the roost.
Run of the ball
2mins: Town start the game by forcing a flurry of three corners in quick succession, but to little effect.
9mins: Another Town corner is punched clear.
18mins: David Cotterill’s free-kick into the area is cleared to the edge, from where Mark Duffy shoots wide.
22mins: Gabriel Tamas’s ball is deflected off Anthony Gerrard into the path of Billy Sharp, whose shot is gathered by keeper Alex Smithies.
28mins: Doncaster go in front through Sharp, who forces the ball home at the far post as Town fail to deal with Cotterill’s corner from the Rovers left, Richie Wellens making a flick-on.
37mins: Nahki Wells’ misplaced pass lets in James Husband, but the full-back shoots wide.
39mins: Cotterill advances threateningly, but drills his shot off target.
43mins: Adam Hammill tricks his way past two challengers and into the area, but his final delivery is way off.
44mins: Anthony Gerrard’s header from Danny Ward’s cross is cleared off the line by Paul Keegan in what turns out to be Town’s best chance of the game.
47mins: Rovers keeper Sam Johnstone blocks at his near post from left-back Paul Dixon, set up by Wells, then saves again as Wells follows up with another shot.
55mins: Doncaster are two to the good as Cotterill shoots home low from Duffy’s delivery from the right.
66mins: Smithies saves from Sharp.
72mins: Martin Paterson is on the end of Adam Clayton’s flighted delivery, but his shot is held.
Click here for more Huddersfield Town news
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
Want the latest Huddersfield Town news? Follow our Town news Twitter here
