HUDDERSFIELD Town shook off any hint of an FA Cup hangover following their Arsenal heartbreak at the weekend with a comfortable win and a bright display of attacking football against a Carlisle United side who had gone unbeaten in their previous four games.
Cumbrians Greg Abbott was unhappy about the manner of the loss: “If you give a team like this time and space like that in and around the box then they are going to punish you,” he said.
“It’s disappointing because we had a good run going and we wanted to keep the momentum with us as we head into a busy period.
“We’ve positives we can take from it but right now all we can think about is the fact that we have lost a game because of our own errors, and that’s always hard to take.”
An eventful opening saw both sides push forward and Carlisle had the first chance of the night when former-Terrier James Berrett let one fly from just outside the area. Bennett was beaten but it was always heading wide.
The lively Anthony Pilkington was sent clear by an intelligent pass from Gudjonsson but Collin spread himself to make a blocked save with his legs.
With the game in full flow the dangerous Gary Roberts had his first effort of the night with a powerful free kick that found a gap in the wall. Collin had to go full length to beat it away.
Ian Bennett may have felt left out but he was called into action on 37 minutes when Lubomir Michalik thumped a thundering long range free kick towards the bottom corner. The big keeper managed to parry the first effort and he did well to recover to make a second even more impressive save as Zoko raced in to finish it off. The Ivorian striker was thwarted again moments later when Marshall skipped clear to deliver a cross. The connection was firm but Bennett completed the save of the season to push the goal-bound stinger over the bar.
The Terriers looked good going forward and it was a slide rule pass from Kilbane that finally opened the door.
Gary Roberts raced onto it and he swept it past the stranded Adam Collin to give his side the lead.
And it got better for the home side on the stroke of half time when Roberts was unmarked to lash home from Lee’s flick.
A much tighter second half struggled to get going with a tame downward header from Gudjonsson the pick of a tense 25 minute passage of play.
Kevin Kilbane almost provided a spark with a dipping left foot volley that edged just past the upright. But it was United who should have got themselves back in it when substitute Matt Robson made space for a low cross.
Marshall was unmarked but he couldn’t find the target as he opted for precision instead of power.
Goals: Huddersfield Town - Roberts (39, 44).
Bookings: Huddersfield Town - Lee (19); Carlisle United - Curran (50), Michalik (53), Noble (62), Zoko (82).
Att: 11,572
Ref: Mr Darren Deadman
Huddersfield Town - Bennett, Hunt, Naysmith, McCombe, P Clarke, Peltier, Kilbane, Gudjonsson (Kay 78), Roberts, Pilkington (Arfield 89), Lee (Afobe 74). Subs - Colgan, Novak, Atkinson, Chippendale.
Carlisle United - Collin, Simek, Michalik, Cooper, Dudgeon, Thirlwell, Taiwo (Robson 54), Berrett (Noble 58), Marshall, Zoko, Curran (Loy 66). Subs - Caig, Livesey, Murphy, Wells.
