Huddersfield Town have had a roller-coaster of a season. With the start and end of it plunged into controversy, it wouldn’t be Town without a bit of drama. Going through the season month by month and the key results, we’ll aim to look upon the highs and lows of this season.

After the disappointing previous season, many fans weren’t happy with manager Mark Robins. Town were also in a bad place with players, too injury-prone, a goal difference that was simply unacceptable, and tactics becoming more worrying by the second.

During the previous summer, Town brought in a new backroom staff for Robins to work with. This seemed strange at the time, with fans questioning the powers that be at the club. With pre-season out of the way, many Town fans were nervous at the start of the campaign, the first game being against eventual Championship winners Bournemouth. An expectant crowd turned up at the John Smiths Stadium.

AUGUST

Town 0-4 Bournemouth

Callum Wilson grabbed two on the day with Marc Pugh and Yann Kermorgant getting the other goals. Town neither showed improvement nor passion, heart or desire. Fans went away thinking that the summer had been a waste and that relegation was certainly on the cards. Immediately after the game, sources were suggesting of Robins sacking but according to the chairman Dean Hoyle. Robins felt it was impossible to carry on and so left the club. Many media outlets felt Town were making a shocking error of judgement, the club was criticized. However what people forgot, was the fact the football had been very poor the second half of the previous season.

Mark Lillis took charge as caretaker manager. Town’s next game was against Chesterfield in the Capital One Cup which they won 5-3, later that month they’d be knocked out of the competition by Nottingham Forest at home. They also lost to Watford 4-2 away in the last game of August.

SEPTEMBER

In this month Town didn’t fare much better with a 2-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough, a goalless draw with Wigan and a shocking 3-0 defeat to Leeds United at Eland Road. Town were in very indifferent form something that would plague the Terriers all season. They did however win against Millwall at home. By this time Chris Powell had taken charge of the club. He had stopped Sean Scannell leaving in the summer to go to Millwall something that would prove to be a good decision.

OCTOBER

The month of October was a great one for Town. An outstanding performance yielded a well-deserved three points. A draw with Blackburn also showed Chris Powell was having the desired effect. Bottom of the table Blackpool visited the John Smiths Stadium and a returning Peter Clarke received an excellent reception, with a 5 to 10 minute standing ovation. Town won the game 4-2. Two draws proceeded the Blackpool win, a draw at home to Brighton and a well-earned point away at Ipswich. Town rounded off October with some positivity.

NOVEMBER

November has never really been a good month for Town. It started off in style with a 3-0 win over Stuart Pierce’s stuttering Nottingham Forest. However big losses to Derby and Fulham, a disappointing draw at Sheffield Wednesday. This was then followed up by a poor performance at Bolton where Town lost 1-0. November had been a costly month for Town.

DECEMBER

The month started and ended with wins, a win against Brentford in one of the performances of the season so far was to be then followed by a thumping at Norwich by 5-0. In previous Championship seasons Town have lost heavily to Leicester and Forest. Although they lost badly to Norwich the result didn’t tell the whole story, Town actually played quite well on the day, unlike the thrashing of Leicester and Forest in seasons gone by where they hadn’t played well. A bitterly disappointing game against Birmingham at home was lost in one of the worst performances since Town had been promoted to the Championship. Another poor quality game at Rotherham also ensued with Town dropping a two goal lead to leave the New York stadium feeling like they’d lost. However the two previous poor performances was followed up by an impressive display against a well-organized Bolton side. Town won that game 2-1.

JANUARY

The most inconsistent month of Town’s season was to follow. With losses to Reading, Middlesbrough and Leeds, and wins against Watford and Wigan the month was so up and down. Town fans would be thinking from game to game which Town team would turn up.

FEBUARY

In the second month of the year, Town carried on their indifferent form. An impressive 3-1 win against Millwall and a 3-0 win over Reading were the highlights. However the month also included disappointing losses to Wolves at home 4-1 and a 3-0 defeat away at Charlton. Town also drew two games in this month, one being to Bournemouth this was again an impressive display by the men in blue and white especially as Eddie Howe had created a fortress down there. The other was a poor performance against Cardiff.

MARCH

March was the only month in Town’s season where they didn’t win a single game. The month started badly with two losses the first being a 4-1 capitulation to Brentford at Griffin Park. The other was to a Rotherham team holding on to their Championship survival just outside the relegation places. A 1-1 draw with Birmingham was seen as another two points dropped. A terrific display against inform Norwich was largely seen as a game Town could right off. However when James Vaughan scored with two minutes left on the clock in added time, the fans thought he’d won the game. After Vaughan scored he took his shirt off to celebrate, but because he was already on a yellow he received a red for the shirt being taken off. As usual with Town though, the concentration levels weren’t kept up to until the whistle and Norwich scored.

The craziest game possibly ever seen at the John Smiths stadium was produced when Fulham rolled into town. The Terriers knew a win would pretty much secure safety. Town had over 40 shots on goal throughout the game. Fulham had below 10 shots on goal. Town also hit the wood work 3 times and had a disallowed goal. So when the referee blew the whistle for full-time, none of the fans in the stadium could believe that Town had just lost 2-0.

APRIL

April was the only other month apart from October where Town didn’t lose a game. With the end of the season nearing and Town looking good for safety, they just had to cross the finishing line with a good end to the season. Wins over Ipswich and Forest and draws with Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton and a wonderful 4-4 draw with Derby County. Meant Town had secured their passage to Championship football next season. The final home game of the season was also a draw with Blackburn Rovers. Jordan Rhodes scoring against his old side while Joe Lolley made sure of a point for Town.

MAY

The last day of the season is always tense for any fan, whether that be a title fight, and promotion tilt or playoff battle. It could be to survive in the league. However Town’s last game was against Blackpool a game that had nothing riding on it. Town’s highest possible finish being 15th but they could finish above Leeds United. Blackpool on the other hand were already relegated.

There were plans for protests outside the ground from the Pool fans against owner Karl Oysten. It was rumoured that trouble could kick off inside the stadium and a pitch invasion was inevitable. The first half passed off without any problems, Town having the better chances and were looking good every time they moved forward with the ball. Meanwhile ex Huddersfield and Blackpool skipper Peter Clarke had a superb chance when shooting from forty yards out, Smithies had to tip it over the bar. Then a minute into the second half a pitch invasion took place and after an hour the match was abandoned. Many Town fans angry about the money they’ve paid to be entertained and in actual fact they’ve only had half a football game. It is not known yet what the FA will do, they could let the result stand. This wouldn’t make sense as it would complicate matters in the future, if a similar situation arose again and promotion, relegation was riding on the result. The other option is to give Town the three points, this however would put them above Leeds, but it would feel like a hollow victory. The last option is to replay the match but this would be difficult to arrange, due to many players going off for holidays. Until this is cleared up both teams have sill only played 45 games.

The season overall has been a success as Town have finished in their highest place in the football league pyramid in 15 years. It is also the 7th consecutive season where Town have progressed in terms of league placing’s. Chris Powell will go into the summer to look to improve the club’s fortunes going into next season.