NUFC 4-3 Huddersfield

Lee Clark’s Huddersfield gave Chris Hughton a hell of a lot to think about last night with the transfer deadline just 5 days away.

We took the lead through a fine Danny Guthrie goal midway through the first half, but just three minutes later we’d shot ourselves squarely in the foot and were 2-1 down - the first a mix-up between debutant Tamas Kadar and home debutant Tim Krul, and the second a rash attempt by Tim Krul to reach the ball and stop striker Theo Robinson from rounding him. It looked like a dive by the orange-booted big-headed shite, but the ref bought it - much to Krul’s annoyance - and he stepped up and gave the Terriers the lead.

The second half started just as badly, as the young United gifted Huddersfield a third, Tim Krul surging out to a loose ball and being beaten to it by Jordan Rhodes, who slotted home from a tight angle.

The third goal seemed to spark some life from the Magpies though, and Geremi equalised virtually straight from kick off, finishing calmly after some good work from Kevin Nolan. Shola, who came on at half-time for the returning Nicky Butt, was tripped in the area on the hour and dusted himself down to equalised from the spot with his fifth of the season.

Finally, after United introduced Jonas and another debutant, Haris Vuckic, a whipped free-kick from Ryan Taylor found Shola at the back stick, and his excellent teed header left Nolan with a simple tap-in to hit United’s fourth and put us into the hat for Saturday’s draw.

The performance, however, of our youngsters (Ranger was battered around and ineffective, LuaLua unproductive and Kadar and Krul extremely wobbly) should give Hughton and Ashley a timely reminder that if we get any sort of injuries to our first choice side, that we simply cannot rely on the young’uns to fire us back into the Premier League.

Att: 23,800