Preston started the better side and immediately threatened the visitors goal through Mousinho who tested Smithies with a low driven shot which the keeper could only push away. The rebound was pounced upon by King but he smashed his effort wide to the distress of the home fans. The home side forced a corner just five minutes later after a great cross from Laird has to be flicked wide by the Huddersfield skipper, Peter Clarke. The corner was immediately cleared by the terriers but Preston were looking very threatening as Huddersfield struggled to string together their passes.
It took nine minutes before Huddersfield created their first half chance of the game as Spencer flicked on a cross which saw Novak fire tamely at Stuckman in the Preston North End goal. Just a minute later the ever impressive Spencer tried to give the terriers the lead but Stuckman pushed his shot away before Gobern curled the rebound over from the edge of the area. Huddersfield continued to create chances and Clayton played a great ball to Novak who headed down into the path of Spencer but the striker couldn't make the goalkeeper work as he fired over the bar.
The game started to settle down and in the 24th minute good link up play by Spencer, Ward & Clayton gave Dixon a chance but he followed Spencers earlier effort and sent his shot over the bar to the delight of the home fans. Preston opened the scoring just before the half hour mark through Jack King. Alex Smithies failed to claim the ball in the area and his mistake led to a looping header from King nestling into the corner of the net to give the home side a well deserved lead.
Huddersfield tried to get back into the game but Novak couldnt keep an attack flowing after a poor touch from Lee Novak gave possession back to Preston. Things got worse for the visitors just five minutes from time as Preston doubled their lead through Wroe who only had to pass it into the net after a neat cross from Beardsley from the wing. Huddersfield needed half time to come quickly but just before the referee blew for the break they had a chance to bring one back. Clayton broke on the counter attack and pushed forward with the ball but he over hit his pass which would have seen Novak through on goal. Half time; Preston 2-0 Huddersfield.
Huddersfield started the second half brightly after switching to a more basic 4-4-2 formation with Arfield replacing Danny Ward at half time. Spencer skipped past his maker just minutes into the second forty-five before finding Southern with his cross but the midfield veteran can only fire over the bar. Preston then immediately started to press the terriers back into their own half as King linked well with Beardsley before the latter fired at goal to test Smithies who dealt with it comfortably.
Monakana wasn't as dangerous as what he was in the first half but he rifled in a shot at goal which skidded across the surface before just going past the upright of Smithies goal. Huddersfield went straight up the other end and created a chance of their own as they searched to get themselves back into the game. Arfield linked up well with Dixon before the left back crosses low but Stuckmann put an end to the attack by collecting well. They once again linked up well ten minutes before Dixon crossed but it was agonizingly taken away from Novak who was just inches away from converting it into the back of the net.
Gobern tamely fired at Stuckmann just minutes later after being given space due to clever play from Spencer, Arfield & Novak. The home side was under a bit of pressure now from Huddersfield but the visitors just couldn't provide the much needed final pass due to a solid Preston defence denying them any sort of real chance. Just 8 minutes from time David Amoo easily left both Dixon & Arfield for dead before drilling a low cross across the face of goal which was amazingly missed by various Preston players.
As time started to slowly tick away Huddersfield created their best chance of the game after a long ball was nodded down by Alan Lee into the path of Lee Novak who fired a shot which was cruelly deflected wide of the goal for a corner. The referee blew for full time minutes later as the terriers disappointingly crashed out in the first round of the Capital One Cup after a very poor performance.
Full time; Preston North End 2-0 Huddersfield Town
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