League One play-off: All Rhodes lead to Wembley for Huddersfield

Jordan Rhodes

Huddersfield 1 MK Dons 2 (Huddersfield win 3-2 on aggregate)

The League One play-off final will be an all-Yorkshire affair after Huddersfield Town booked safe passage through by just doing enough to see off a brave Milton Keynes Dons, who won on the night.

Simon Grayson’s Terriers will now take on Sheffield United at Wembley on May 26th for a place in the Championship, after Jordan Rhodes’ 40th goal of the season established a three-goal lead in the tie, which eventually proved enough despite Nick Powell’s first half equaliser and a stoppage time header from the MK Dons veteran Alan Smith.

Karl Robinson’s side had left their attempted comeback too late though, and the hosts were able to just hold on to reach a second play-off final in successive seasons, sparking a pitch invasion at the Galpharm Stadium.

It was the opening to the contest which ended up costing the Dons, as the Terriers began with all the confidence of a side 2-0 up from the first leg. Lee Novak fired wide from the edge of the box, before the prolific Rhodes followed up his first leg strike and his 38 other goals this season with a low strike to beat David Martin following a Daniel Ward cross.

Huddersfield lost their veteran goalkeeper Ian Bennett to injury shortly afterwards, and it wasn’t long before young replacement Alex Smithies was beaten when Powell fired into the bottom corner after being found by Adam Chicksen.

The Dons had a decent shout for a penalty shortly afterwards, and they took that confidence into the second period when full-back Chicksen fired wide following a strong run, before Charlie MacDonald crucial fired wide after running clean through.

Martin had to make a double save from first-leg scorer Jack Hunt and Kallum Higginbotham to keep Robinson’s side in it, before Ward and Rhodes fired wide as the Terriers sought to put the match to bed.

They never did though, and with MK pressing for a way back into the tie the longer the match went on, Smithies had to be alert to save from Jabo Ibehre in stoppage time before turning Powell’s rebound over the crossbar.

From the resultant corner though, Darren Potter’s delivery reached Smith at the back post, and the former England forward was able to direct a low header into the net to raise the prospect of extra-time.

Only seconds remained though, and Grayson’s side were able to see out the contest and set up a big Wembley day out for Yorkshire.

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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