Huddersfield reclaim third place as Luton pay the price for costly errors

Huddersfield Town came out on top against Luton Town in another play-off showdown courtesy of goals from Jon Russell and Naby Sarr.

The Terriers cemented their spot in the top six with a 2-0 win against promotion rivals Luton after a commanding second-half display, following Elijah Adebayo’s missed penalty for the Hatters.

Both sides entered the contest knowing that another three points on the board would turn their dreams of a play-off spot into more of a reality with five games to go.

Luton’s high pressing looked to cause issues for the hosts from the off, however, it was Huddersfield who enjoyed the best chances of the half.

A Danel Sinani corner could only be cleared as far as the awaiting Sorba Thomas on the edge of the box before the Welshman fired into the crowded penalty area. His effort ricocheted off an orange shirt taking the sting out of the shot, much to the delight of the wrong-footed James Shea who could easily gather. 

The Hatters soon showed their own quality on the attack, as smart work from substitute Robert Snodgrass saw the Scotsman win the ball back and swiftly find Harry Cornick on the edge of the box before he drilled low towards the bottom-left corner, only to be denied by Lee Nicholls’ smart stop. 

A similar story played out, again, early in the second half with Thomas and Sinani involved in another set-piece routine. The former’s delivery dropped to the Norwich loanee, with his effort deflected away from danger by Kal Naismith.

Switching off at the back was always going to cause issues for the Hatters and the warning signs were already there. Nevertheless, nobody in the visitors’ backline picked up Huddersfield’s Jon Russell from a throw-in, before lobbing the keeper with the outside of his boot from 18-yards out. James Shea could do nothing as he watched the ball nestle into the back of the net to give the Terriers a much-deserved lead just before the hour mark.

A lead as fragile as a one by a single goal needed protecting, therefore a tangle of legs leading to Huddersfield’s Pipa bringing down James Bree in the box was the last thing the Terriers needed with twenty minutes to play. 

Luton’s top scorer Adebayo stepped up to the plate after scoring three of his last four from the spot. The opportunity to level the scores went begging, however, with the former Walsall man sending his effort narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner. A golden opportunity for the Hatters wasted.

Chances like that would not come around again for the Nathan Jones’ men, either. Pushing for an equaliser, they were caught out, once more, from a corner in the dying moments of the game. 

A deep delivery from Thomas found Naby Sarr who headed home to seal all three points for the Yorkshire side and move back into third. A resounding display by a side looking for a return to the top-flight after a three-year absence.

What does this mean for the promotion race?

Huddersfield closed the gap on second place to just four points following their victory, with second place Bournemouth dropping points to Sheffield United this weekend. The Cherries still maintain a two-game advantage over the Terriers, although, in-form Nottingham Forest have also played 39 games and find themselves just four points behind Scott Parker’s side. 

No wins in three for Luton increases pressure during the final run-in. Defeat in what can be deemed as a “six-pointer” sees the Hatters fall four points behind their latest opponents while the gap between themselves and seventh place Blackburn has dropped to two points. They welcome Forest to Kenilworth Road next time out where the need to get back to winning ways is at an all-time high if they are to hold on to a remarkable play-off finish.

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