A sensational Anthony Pilkington goal gives Huddersfield a well-deserved win in a Yorkshire derby between 5th and 6th in the League One table, bearing in mind only one point separated Huddersfield in 6th and Southampton in 2nd place before this early-afternoon, televised match. This was Sheffield Wednesday's first game for sixteen days having been on the recieving end of a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Exeter City on 18th December.
Their lack of matches in recent weeks wasn't at fault for their loss, as between the opponents sticks stood Alex Smithies who showed a fantastic display of goalkeeping skills. A number of saves including a Tommy Miller freekick as well as a double save from Neil Mellor and Darren Purse ought to have been enough for the youngster to have earned a man of the match performance. The man of the match was in fact the goalscorer who's goal came in the 27th minute, courtesy of a wonderful Pilkington strike. He cut in from the right-hand side onto his left foot to unleash a thumping effort that dipped over the helpless Weaver.
A penalty shout for Huddersfield within a minute was waved away by the referee, replays show it was handball although you could argue it was ball to hand by Clinton Morrison defending in his own box. Marc Beevers hammered the post from a header. Both keepers played well as veteran Weaver frustrated the Huddersfield attack. Michael Oliver appeared to have made a blunder as he booked Huddersfield centre half Anthony Kay for a foul on Morrison in the first half, as well as booking him with ten minutes to go for kicking the ball away, and failing to send him off. Himself and Mellor were involved in a second half incident in which Mellor was shoved into the advertising boards by Kay. A few players from either side came together as the derby heated up.
Veteran midfielder Kevin Kilbane nicknamed 'Zinedine Kilbane' by Huddersfield fans deserves a mention for his wide range of passing skills. The 33 year-old had a great game as too did Alex Smithies, thirteen years his junior, a mixture of young talent and vast experience winning the game for Huddersfield as the intensity calmed down.
