The Terriers devoured the Wolves with a brace from Aaron Mooy to get their first away win since February and catapult them off the bottom of the table, taking 7 points from their last three games as Wolves continue their slump, making it three losses in a row at home.
Huddersfield came out of the blocks early and with their first chance, managed to convert it. Erik Durm broke down the left and a fizzed pull back found Aaron Mooy who precisely placed his side footed shot into the bottom left corner. It was a great technical finish by the influential midfielder and left the home side shell shocked.
Both teams applied attacking pressure but couldn’t create any clear cut chances due to great last ditch tackles and failed attacking moves. Huddersfield went close in the last few minutes of the first half with a couple of attempts on Rui Patricio’s goal but failed to find the net. David Wagner’s men put in a solid and confident performance, the opposite you’d expect from a team sitting at the foot of the table before the game.
Wolves thought they had equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Jimenez’s back post header beat the keeper but was cleared by Billing with less than an inch of the ball to cross the line. Without goal line technology that would have been given and consequently the dynamic of the match would have changed drastically.
Jimenez failed to capitalise on a ‘sportsman’ like decision when a Huddersfield player was stretching out a leg injury playing the Wolves striker miles on side. Despite him continuing, he failed to release a shot on goal and his pass was poor, rolling aimlessly across the box.
Huddersfield were playing on the counter attack as Wolves pressed. Mounie’s run into the box saw the ref pull the play back for a free kick on the edge of the box. Aaron Mooy stepped up, a few yards to the right of the near post, and put a pacey, curved ball around the outside of the wall and into the bottom near corner of the Wolves goal. The pace was enough to deem the keeper’s hand negligible in changing the direction of the ball and put the Terriers two ahead on 74 minutes.
Wolves failed to create any real threats and Huddersfield comfortably saw out the remainder of the game, leaving Molineux with a clean sheet and all three points.
Freshening up: January can’t come soon enough
Wolves are looking to January in fear of losing players who have generated interest from top clubs like Ruben Neves but, like Huddersfield, are heavily speculated to be in the market for an attacking presence. Wolves have scored 12 but their defensive strength has only seen them concede 15, whereas Huddersfield have greater defensive concerns, having conceded 22.
Huddersfield have already been rumored with young attacker Adjin Hrustic of Groningen who may walk into the team considering Mounie has not scored in 34 shots.
The 22 year old Austrian hasn’t exactly lit up the Eredivisie, only assisting once in eight starts and two substitutions which highlights the risk of this signing and Huddersfield’s desperation. The Terriers definitely need to bolster defensively and will have to make some serious signings in January to survive.
Despite Nuno denying conflict of interests with transfer super agent, Jorge Mendes, they are still being linked with a number of players. The supposed dispute is over the suggestion that Nuno is looking for a wing-back, box-to-box midfielder and attacker, which is going against Mendes’s advice.
It seems Mendes can’t work his magic as 18 year old French starlet, Jean-Claire Todibo of Toulouse, is now being chased by Inter Milan. Mbaye Diagne of Turkish side Kasimpasa, has been tipped as the attacking target for Wolves’ transfer list. He has bagged 24 in 29 games and suits their style of play and is expected to be attacking support for Jimenez.
Wolves decline: International Break hangovers or struggling to adapt?
The Wanderers’ form has significantly declined since their September heroics, only taking four points out of 18. During this dip in form, there have been two international breaks and Wolves have failed to make an impact upon return to Premier League duty.
Their style of play has not changed and neither have their energy levels. They still manage to control a large amount of possession in games but continue the habit of not taking chances. However, they have lost their last three games at home; a worrying run.
Their defensive performances have suffered and with the lack of goals, it’s a recipe for disaster. Since September, they have conceded eight while only scoring four. Their starting line ups have changed little and their formation and tactics seem to be loosening as they struggled to keep tight and pressed high which has been key to their victories in the Premier League season.
Wolves have missed many chances this season, which is part of their downfall, but have teams begun to figure out how to play against them? Teams below them in the table have taken points from them and this will be a source of growing concern.
Huddersfield’s spirit: Aaron Mooy and the heroics
At the start of the game, Huddersfield were sitting at the bottom of the table and had the fewest number of minutes leading, 16, going into today’s game. This result changed that with Aaron Mooy’s brace and the heroics from the team. Goal line clearances, last ditch tackles and all round togetherness brought out the confidence in this squad and epitomised the minimum requirements of a David Wagner side.
In the first half, Huddersfield were competitive and created a couple of chances while keeping the home side fairly quiet. They were the Huddersfield side we’ve been used to seeing, hard to break down and physical. They were effective on the counter, managing to find space and move the ball forward quickly. Once they were ahead they controlled the ball well and dealt with any pressure Wolves threw at them.
Defensively, they looked competent but going forward, they would run out of ideas from time to time and relied on set pieces to threaten the Wolves goal. The lived up to their Terrier name and pressed high, giving Wolves little time to build from the back. Being in the position they are, they can expect to fight for every point as they did today but only time will tell as to whether high intensity pressing and an organised defence is enough to survive.
Wolves’ Plan B: Do they have one?
Nuno made the brave decision to introduce Gibbs-White and Traore at half time. They initially made an impact, increasing the energy and pace up front. Huddersfield were not given a spare second on the ball and it should have beebn taking its toll on them as Wolves began to grow more threatening in the final third. However, neither player threatened the goal nor did they provide better service to their team mates or create problems for the Terrier defenders.
Despite the influx of pace and energy they failed to alter the games direction. Huddersfield still didn’t have much to do to prevent Wolves from scoring. It didn’t alter the way the home side played or lift the energy of the other players, it was only individual impacts which they made. Their performances were good considering state of the game, but questions have to be asked of what instructions and orders Nuno gave to his men in the dressing room. It’s difficult to ask players to change a game in which your tactics aren’t working. The manager has to take responsibility that a lack of different ideas prevented working the Huddersfield defence harder.
Winter is coming: a difficult December ahead
Both clubs will now be contemplating the importance of a packed December fixture list and the significance it will play in both club’s seasons. Wolves won’t take solace in the fact that they have only won matches when keeping a clean sheet. With their December fixtures featuring Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and eighth placed Bournemouth, the odds of keeping a clean sheet are slim.
Wolves will have to break this trend or at least not concede to have a shout of taking any points from these games. Their results against top teams have been impressive but realistically, their form indicates that this could be a troubling time for the Wanderers. Wolves are now closer to the bottom of the table than the top on 16 points.
Huddersfield’s fixtures aren’t as arduous as Wolves’ but they are just as vital, squaring up with teams around them in the table. Half of their December fixtures are against relegation contenders Newcastle, Southampton and Fulham. The Terriers will have to recreate today’s performance and keep their confidence up to beat those sitting below in the table and continue to distance themselves. This win could be pivotal in their season as they leap frog out of the relegation zone to 14th in the table on 10 points.
