Lynch and Rhodes on target
Joel Lynch and Jordan Rhodes got Town fully up and running in the Championship this afternoon helping to record a hard earned 2-0 victory over Burnley.
Lynch got things going early for the Terriers heading home at the near post and Rhodes put the icing on the cake with a superbly taking effort from inside the box.
Burnley never really troubled Smithies but did have the ball in the back of the net through David Edgar which was chalked off for offside.
Simon Grayson handed new boy James Vaughan his full debut as Town looked for their first three points of the season against Eddie Howe’s Burnley.
Vaughan’s introduction saw Lee Novak drop to the bench as the Terriers started in a 4-4-2 formation with the on loan Norwich man partnering Jordan Rhodes in attack.
Burnley made their attacking intentions clear early on in Town’s first roses clash of the season as they peppered the Terriers’ with balls into the box.
The visitors first shot shortly followed through Dean Marney who saw his effort in the fourth minute blocked superbly by the diving Peter Clarke. Debutant James Vaughan struck first for Town after stealing the ball in the middle of the park before forcing Lee Grant to push his twenty yard drive around the post.
From the resulting Oliver Norwood corner Joel Lynch made the breakthrough when his near post header was adjudged to have crossed the line by the linesman despite Burnley’s best efforts on the line.
Burnley looked unable to cope with Town’s attacking force and were lucky not to be further behind in the 14th minute when Sean Scannell twisted Kieran Trippier inside out before clipping to Rhodes whose powerful header rebounded off Grant’s crossbar.
Vaughan was looking lively for the Terriers during the opening exchanges and twice within a matter of minutes Burnley skipper Jason Shackell had to be on hand to deny the former Everton hitman.
The former Norwich defender was in the action again in the 21st minute to deny Adam Clayton before Lee Grant showed superb reactions to prevent Rhodes’ stooping header after good work from Jack Hunt and Peter Clarke.
Town spurned another two chances through Clayton and Vaughan before David Edgar thought he had drawn his side level after drilling home off the post in the 44th minute, but his effort was chalked off after Charlie Austin was deemed to have been offside and interfering with play.
HALF-TIME – HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1 BURNLEY 0
Town were greeted by an inspired crowd as they emerged for the second-half after local Olympian Ed Clancy had shown off his medals to the crowd.
Midfielder Keith Southern was the unlikely source of Town’s first shot after he tried from 20 yards but saw his effort well blocked by Chris McCann. As the half drew towards the hour mark Grayson's men wasted too good chances to deliver when both substitute Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes were well placed.
Rhodes didn’t let that missed opportunity bother him though and in the 60th minute he doubled Town’s advantage smashing the ball home from ten yards after excellent work from Hunt, Clarke and Lynch had set the Scottish striker up.
Burnley’s first meaningful effort of the half fell to Austin in the 67th minute who headed Trippier’s deft cross narrowly over Smithies’ bar. Ross Wallace then tried for the Clarets but he sliced well wide with his weaker right foot.
James Vaughan’s impressive debut came to a conclusion in the 77th minute with Lee Novak entering the fray. The visitor’s pressure began to mount on the Terriers’ goal with Town putting their bodies on the line to block shots and Alex
Smithies was showing excellent command of his box to quell Burnley’s threat from the wings.
Despite the visitors domination of the latter stages of the game they never really troubled Town at the back as they recorded their first three points of the season!
FULL-TIME – HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 BURNLEY 0
Town’s team (4-4-2):
Alex Smithies; Paul Dixon (Anthony Gerrard, 83), Joel Lynch, Peter Clarke (C), Jack Hunt; Sean Scannell (Danny Ward, 20), Keith Southern, Oliver Norwood, Adam Clayton; James Vaughan (Lee Novak 77), Jordan Rhodes
Unused substitutes:
Ian Bennett, Calum Woods, Scott Arfield, Jimmy Spencer
Bookings Town: Adam Clayton 38,
Bookings Burnley:
Gate: 15,483
Away: 3,016
