Town Manager looks at 2-2 stalemate
- Chris Powell reviews 2-2 draw at Reading
- Manager comments on inclusion of Billing & Dempsey
Huddersfield Town Manager Chris Powell reviews tonight’s 2-2 draw at Reading after the final whistle:
“I’m sure when I look at it in the morning it will be a really good point, but as I stand here now I’m disappointed. We just couldn’t see out the last six or seven minutes, which is tough to take because the level of performance was fantastic.
“It’s a shame, but maybe in a few weeks’ time it’ll be a good point. The fans here and back at home should be proud of their team.
“We knew they would push us back and we’d have to deal with what Reading threw at us. We did that for large parts, but it’s not natural for the likes of Joe (Lolley) to go back.
“Our team had two players making their first Championship starts in (Philip) Billing and (Kyle) Dempsey. Joe Lolley came on and although he has been on loan, he hadn’t played for a while; that was the same with Vaughany.
“I want to be positive and I think we’re a good side if we have two strikers, but sometimes you have to make sure you are hard to beat and get a foothold in games.
“You look at the players and they were plucky; they played with pride and verve, especially in the first half. I’m really proud of what they showed me tonight.
“I thought they carried on where they left off at Burnley, where we got better and better. I’d been drumming into them that they should give me and the fans what they gave on Saturday and they’ve done that again tonight.
“We’ve had a lot of possession in games and have built well from defence through midfield, but our decision making hasn’t been right. I asked the players to run beyond the ball, because they would get it and that would make the defence face their own goal.
“We knew Nahki would make runs in behind all the time. I’ve picked Ishmael and Vaughany at times because sometimes you need power, but we knew Nahki would get it. It was his ball that played Pato in and it was well finished; he has come alive in the two games. Nahki then timed his run to get onto Harry’s ball and there’s nobody better at the Club one on one. We saw that against MK Dons and he was very close against Burnley.
“People like Phil Billing must be wondering if this is what it like every week, but I kept him on there; he did some great things tonight. He’ll learn a hell of a lot from it, as will Kyle. As they get more game time, they will be good players for us.
“Emyr was the elder statesman of the midfield three tonight and that says a lot, but they dovetailed well at times.
“Jamie Paterson has given me food for thought. He’s small and lightweight, but he’s a clever player, he handles the ball well and makes good decisions. He’s a creator and he can score goals; he’s got a couple now in the last four games.
“We were threadbare again. We didn’t have Hoggy, we don’t have Scanz, Ishmael was ill, Dean Whitehead suspended.
“Jamie has a bit of a strain, so he’s touch and go for Saturday. Joel is suspended now too, which is a blow as he has been outstanding with Huddy.”
