Chris previews Tuesday night’s game at Charlton
- Chris Powell previews game at Charlton
- Manager says squad 'knows what it needs to do'
- Chris comments on Jamie Paterson's impact
Huddersfield Town Manager Chris Powell wants to see his players step forward and believe in themselves when they take on Charlton Athletic in the Sky Bet Championship at the Valley on Tuesday night.
Powell believes a performance akin to that in the opening hour at Cardiff City on Saturday over a longer period is what is needed in London, as he explained to htafc.com:
“We need to replicate the opening two thirds of the Cardiff performance, which was ever so good. On Saturday, we didn’t get the breaks at either end and I suppose that is symptomatic at the moment. However, we have to believe that a performance akin to the first two thirds would hold us in good stead over future matches.
“We’re drumming into the players that we need to do that over all three thirds; it’s as simple as that.”
If his team can do that, the Manager thinks that the Club’s search for a first Sky Bet Championship win of 2015/16 will soon come to an end:
“I hope our luck will turn soon. We have good players here; they are a good group and they want to do well. I have a few new players that I’m getting to know, let alone their teammates out there alongside them, but there’s lots to like about them.
“It has to turn in our favour soon, because we don’t want to be cut adrift. We’ve had a tricky start, there’s no doubt about that, but now we have to step forward and believe in ourselves against Charlton and in the following game at home to Bolton.”
Powell knows he will be without the services of Club Captain Mark Hudson (ankle) and goalkeeper Joe Murphy (calf) for some time, as he explained:
“I believe both Joe and Mark will be out for around three to four weeks.
“We have to get on with it. The players who have come in want to play and do well and we have to integrate them as quickly as we can. I’m working on that and the players alongside them have already helped.
“Having a new group can be tough, but there are signs of some good play and what can happen in the future.”
Of Town’s newest recruits, Chris believes that Nottingham Forest loanee Jamie Paterson is one who has the ability to turn games in his team’s favour:
“He showed at times that he is a clever player, especially in the first period. He wants to play people in as well as get in the box.
“He’s a bit ‘Will-o’-the-wisp’ and alongside Nahki they’re not exactly two big bruisers up there, but they are clever footballers and both can finish. They will link up and the more they pair up, the more we will get out of them.
“His arrival has changed us slightly as we have to be a bit more deliberate in our approach play. They’re not going to win loads in the air against two big centre halves, so we have to feed them in the right areas. Jamie wants to pick the ball up in pockets of space and hopefully we can do more of that to punish the opposition, starting against Charlton and Bolton.”
Powell spent over 11 years at Town’s midweek opponents Charlton Athletic as a player and then as Manager, but he was adamant that old allegiances had no bearing for him this week.
Chris concluded: “My time there as a player and also as Manager is no secret. It was a good club for me and I’ll shake everyone’s hands, but I’m at Huddersfield Town now and we go there knowing what we have to do.
“Once the whistle blows, we must do ourselves justice. We didn’t do that at the Valley last year in front of a big crowd, so let’s hope that changes in our favour this year.”
Town fans can pay on the evening at the Valley; click HERE for full information.
