Town Manager’s thoughts on the 0-0 game at Portman Road
- Manager's thoughts on the Ipswich draw
- Chris Powell pleased with clean sheet
- Chris discusses James Vaughan's dismissal
Huddersfield Town Manager Chris Powell gave his thoughts on today’s 0-0 draw at Ipswich Town to htafc.com after the full time whistle.
“We were very good in parts and more often than not over the course of the 90 minutes. We started off excellently.
“I wasn’t happy at half time, because we had so many chances and situations in the final third to get in front for an away team and we weren’t ahead.
“We knew Ipswich we’d have to counter the way Mick (McCarthy) gets his teams going and how they play, but I thought Mark Hudson, coming back in, and Martin Cranie were excellent, as was defensively everyone really.
“During the week, I showed the defenders all the goals we’ve conceded so far this season. They’ve seen them before, but we sat there and spoke about them.
“We haven’t shown that solidity enough; I understand that. We’ve let ourselves down at times this year, but this squad wants to do well. If you start well it gives you confidence and our defensive work gave us the confidence to attack Ipswich, who were in the top six last year.
“We’ve worked defensively with them all week, as we knew we need a platform. Now they’ve got the clean sheet and the defenders, plus Jed Steer, are happy! With a clean sheet, you know you will get something; either one or three points.
“We got that and then it was about trying to create chances as well. We had one cleared off the line and their ‘keeper made a good save, but equally Jed Steer made an outstanding save.
“Maybe on balance the score was right, but I thought we had the better situations to take three points. We went with two strikers and a little bit ‘old school’ in the way we played, but we set up like that because we felt we could get something here.”
One disappointing element was the red card shown to the returning James Vaughan in the final few minutes after an altercation with a defender.
“He’s been stupid. I’ve seen it again and he shouldn’t have done it. He’s let himself down, because to be fair to James he has worked hard to get back to where he is. He’d had a good week’s training and had played 45 minutes against Man City, so it was all there.
“Today he had 20 minutes to come on and make his mark in helping the team before we could have released him against MK Dons.
“He shouldn’t have done it; we were in the last five minutes and it’s our throw in, so you have to manage the game. It’s just stupid and now I’m not too sure how long we’ll lose him for. It’s stupid and it could have cost us.”
Chris also praised the near-400 fans that supported the team at Portman Road:
“Our fans that came here made some good noise. It’s a long way here, but I’m sure they would have been heartened by that performance and our first clean sheet. We defended well as a unit, but also attacked well.”
It’s a quick turnaround for Powell and his team now ahead of Tuesday’s game at home to MK Dons, which is just £10 entry at the gates for adults.
“We’re battered and bruised in the changing room, but now we have to pick ourselves up again for MK Dons. There was a lot to like about us today and hopefully we can build on that.”
