Chris reviews Birmingham City 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Chris Powell credited his side’s steely determination after today’s 1-1 draw at Birmingham City.
“I haven’t smiled after a game for a while, but I have to say that today was a very good response from our players after a horrendous week and three defeats,” Chris told htafc.com.
“I thought we set the tone from minute one and undeservedly went a goal behind, as I felt we were on the front foot and took the game to the home side.
“We started to pass the ball again, which we’ve shied away from recently for whatever reason. The training this week has been focussed and positive ahead of a 10 game mini-season for us.
“Despite that we carried on and I thought we fully deserved the equaliser. We could have been two or three up at half-time; Joel Lynch had a good header saved by Darren Randolph and Jacob Butterfield flashed one across the area. We had opportunities, but it wasn’t to be.
“The game ebbed and flowed in the second-half. I thought there was a steely determination about the team all day, which we knew we needed; Birmingham has been on a good run and we knew it would be tough against a confident team.”
Powell picked out a couple of his players for special praise after the final whistle; Mark Hudson and goal-scorer Joe Lolley:
“I thought our performance was encapsulated by the Captain, Mark Hudson. I always speak first, but all week he has been a leader.
“Joe is from the Birmingham area, so I’m sure he had family and friends here! He’s a real natural talent and I’m keen to see the day when he can last all 90 minutes. His rise to become a Championship footballer is quite amazing and we’re trying to get his talent seen on the pitch on a regular basis.
“He wants to do well and sometimes that nervous energy gets to him a bit. We know we have a talent we need to nurture; there’s certainly something there.”
Now Powell is demanding his team replicates today’s level of performance in the final nine games of the season:
“I’ve got to be happy with a point, but I would have been happier with three. Considering what has gone on in the last three games, it’s something for us to build on. We now have to keep that level of performance going in the remaining nine games.
“We’re better on the front foot; when we’re not, we are not a good side. We need to start positively, pass, move and get in the final third and we hadn’t done that enough in recent games. We have young men here who are quite inexperienced on the whole and it’s been a steep learning curve.”
Town hosts Norwich City on Tuesday night, so Powell finished with an update on Harry Bunn and Jack Robinson; both went off with injuries today.
“Harry’s hamstring flared up, sadly. He declared himself fit and he trained well for the last three days, but sometimes the added pressure of playing in a game can be a difference. I don’t know how long he’ll be, but Sean Scannell came on and did well.
“Then we lost Jack Robinson near the end with a jarred knee. We don’t know how serious that is; hopefully Tuesday won’t come too quickly for him. We won’t risk anyone though.”
