Match Report: Millwall 4-0 Huddersfield Town

The New Den Played Host To The Terriers

Huddersfield Town were sent packing against Millwall in South London as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign so far. Simon Grayson described his teams performance as a learning curve but that will not escape the fact that the bubble has finally burst for the high flying West Yorkshire side. Going into the game the terriers were sitting just outside the play-offs spot and coming off a midweek away defeat against Peterborough it seemed like the players were destined to get the club back on winning ways. However, Town fans were immediately left slightly worried as James Vaughan was excluded from the starting line-up and the bench due to a slight thigh strain.

Town's Team: Smithies, Lynch, Gerrard, Clarke, Hunt, Clayton, Southern, Ward, Hammill, Beckford, Novak.

Huddersfield Town started the game the better of the two sides and withing sixty seconds they were threatening the visitors goal mouth. Danny Ward's low cross was found by striker Lee Novak but he could only hook his shot over the bar of Forde's goal to the relief of the home fans. Beckford looked to be Town's target man and the on loan Leicester City player was receiving the full attention of the home crowd already.

Millwall managed to get their first shot on goal after some neat football down the left wing ended up with the ball being knocked down to Trotters feet on the edge of the area. Trotter swiveled on the ball before releasing a wild effort that only found the upper tier of The new Den stadium. Moments later, Henry's bizarre cross come shot caused Alex Smithies problems and the young goalkeeper was forced into making a save and conceding a corner.

With just over fifteen minutes on the clock, Wood who had scored twice midweek against Birmingham City for The Lions, sent a powerful shot towards the terriers goal that sizzled just wide of Smithies left hand upright. Huddersfield were looking the better team as both defences remained sturdy to keep the game at a stalemate.

The stalemate was broken on the 28th minute and it was the home side that took the lead. Darius Henderson was named by ourselves as Millwall's key player and it was the tall striker that provided the assist for the goal as he turned neatly on the edge of the box before crossing to Wood who easily managed to poke home past Smithies. Huddersfield should well of got themselves back on level terms just seconds after the restart as a cross was knocked into the path of Keith Southern by Jermaine Beckford but the midfielder showed exactly why he hasn't scored this season as he blazed his shot well over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Half time was fast approaching and Huddersfield looked keen to get an equalizer before heading into the tunnel and they nearly managed to do so as Hammill delivered an excellent cross into the box from the right hand side which was expertly brought down by Beckford but he fired wide of the near post.

Half Time: Millwall 1-0 Huddersfield

Huddersfield Town started the second half as they had done the first at The New Den. Jermaine Beckford had looked the visitors main goal threat all game and it was him who ended up setting up Novak to unleash a shot on goal but Millwall's Jimmy Abdou managed to produce an amazing last second block to avoid the goalkeeper doing any work. Danny Ward then crossed for the visitors a few minutes later and the ball nearly nestled into the bottom corner as it came off Lions defender Mark Beevers. Luckily for Millwall it went out for a corner instead of an own goal.

As an hour of play passed, the terriers seemed to collapse as they were caught superbly by a speedy counter attack from Millwall. Henry lead The Lions attack before slipping the ball into the path of Wood who finished well past Smithies to get his second of the game and double the home sides lead.

Simon Grayson knew his side needed to get back into the game before it was too late and he illustrated this by bringing on both Dixon & Scannell to install some pace into his team. However, it didn't work as Millwall came close to getting their third of the game as Henry's in-swinging corner found Lowry but he could only volley off target. It wasn't too long before the terriers were picking the ball back up out of their net as Henry put the game beyond Grayson's men.

Wood was involved in the third goal yet again for The Lions and with Lynch down he took advantage of Huddersfield by squaring the ball across the face of goal for Henry who rifled his shot home to the roar of the home fans. Heading into the final ten minutes of the game, Darius Henderson had the opportunity to get himself onto the score sheet as he dribbled past Smithies before shooting across the face of the goal to the relief of the Town fans.

Huddersfield Town were then reduced to ten men as insult was added to injury. Jack Hunt was given a straight red card by the referee for direct abusive language to the official in charge. Hunt's sending off wasn't the end of Town's misery as a fourth goal was added to Millwall's total. Trotter picked up the ball on the edge of the area before fainting a shot to take it past two Huddersfield players & then curling it into the far corner past the diving Smithies.

Full Time: Millwall 4-0 Huddersfield Town