HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2, ROTHERHAM UNITED 0
Manchesterfootball.info crosses the Pennines for a feisty Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United, two teams battling against relegation in the Championship.
Huddersfield Town have enjoyed festive cheer at the double to move off the foot of the Championship.
Goals from Duane Holmes and Jordan Rhodes earned the Terriers a huge home victory against fellow strugglers Rotherham United.
And after the Boxing Day win at Preston North End, suddenly Town are suddenly within touching distance of safety having been five points adrift before kick-off.
It was a satisfying night for Town head coach Mark Fotheringham who put the improvement down to a “mentality shift” and the work they did in a training camp in Marbella.
“We worked on our fitness levels and want to be the fittest and most aggressive team in the league,” he said.
“We have got to keep working. If we don’t back it up, this win will mean nothing.
“We never get too high when we win or too low when we lose.”
Fotheringham added they did not lack ideas or structure but were sloppy early on.
“Once we went through the gears, you could see our class in the final third with Duane and Jordan who is a gem to work with,” he continued.
Rotherham manager Matt Taylor said: “Not a lot is going for us, but our play is not up to the levels required.
“We had a go at the end with two players on one leg. The spirit was there, but we lacked quality.
“We are a bit short. People always say Rotherham are a bit short at this level, and we are trying to bridge that gap.”
A dour opening half, a battle of attrition between the strugglers, was punctuated by a goal out of keeping with the first 45 minutes.
What an opportune moment for Holmes to break his scoring duck for the season after 23 appearances without a goal.
Holmes produced a neat turn on the right of the penalty area before firing an unstoppable shot into the far corner for a 31st minute breakthrough.
Town had a great chance to extend their lead early in the second half when Rhodes was denied by a smart save from Viktor Johansson.
Rhodes made no mistake in the 56th minute when he doubled the advantage with his sixth goal of the season and 97th for the club.
Davd Kasumu squared a pass from the right and Rhodes bent a shot low to the left of Johansson to put clear daylight between the teams.
Strangely, the not so Merry Millers, were at their most dangerous when two down.
In the last half hour, there were glaring misses for Jamie Lindsay and substitute Hakeem Odoffin which could have put them back in the game, but it was Town’s night as their season is suddenly gaining momentum.