Keith Andrews has voiced his concerns over Huddersfield Town’s lack of attacking firepower. A last-gasp goal from big defender Michal Helik earned the Terriers a point at Coventry City in Darren Moore’s first match at the helm last night. It was just reward for a much-improved second half showing.
But the Terriers were not at the races in the opening 45 minutes, failing to register a single shot on target. They had just one attempt on goal.
Danny Ward missed the trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena due to an Achilles injury, leaving Moore with Delano Burgzorg, Josh Koroma, Kian Harratt and Kyle Hudlin to choose from in attack. Mainz loanee Burzorg is still adapting to English Football, Koroma has played more out wide than down the middle in his career while Harratt and Hudlin remain relatively inexperienced at Championship level.
Town were thwarted in their attempts to bring in another striker in the summer transfer window. Their failure to add more quality at the top end of the pitch frustrated previous manager Neil Warnock.
Republic of Ireland assistant boss Andrews made his feelings known on the Terriers’ forward line during Sky Sports’ half-time coverage. The pundit said: “I think they are really lightweight at the top end of the pitch. I think they really lack a focal point.
“There’s a lack options up there. They were quiet in the transfer market around that area of the pitch. Even Neil Warnock was quite vocal in that regard.”
Andrews said Moore will be happy with the endeavour his team showed in the second half against Coventry. He felt they were aggressive and showed greater attacking intent. The introduction of Sorba Thomas helped swing things their way, according to Andrews and fellow pundit Jobi McAnuff.
Andrews says Town deserved a point on the balance of play.” They were the better team in the second half,” he said. “Huddersfield weren’t good enough in the first half. He [Moore] won’t have been happy with the performance levels but he equally deserves credit for what he tweaked at half-time.
“It was a very different type of performance. They played forward with quality. They got into areas and asked questions of the defence.”
McAnuff agreed with Andrews’ assessment, saying: “They were way too passive when you look at their positions in the first half. They just didn’t get enough bodies forward.
“I didn’t feel like they played into areas that were going to go and give Coventry an issue. They let Coventry dictate a lot of that first half whereas in the second half they stepped onto the game.
“Sorba Thomas was a real key player in terms of getting balls into the box. I know it sounds simple but they just made Coventry have to defend situations, which they did and that’s where the goal came from.”