Huddersfield Town

“I thought today was a very professional performance from the players with some good quality, hard work and endeavour – the basics you need to win a game in this division,” Simon told htafc.com. “To come to Oakwell is very difficult anyway without it being a Yorkshire derby and I thought we did ever so well.

“We created some good chances and put them under pressure, but at only 1-0 up going into the latter stages of the game you do wonder if it’s going to be one of those days where they nick one after we’ve dominated the chances throughout the game. However, today was a very professional performance.

“We wanted to pass the ball a little bit because I feel we’d been going too long a bit too early at times in the first half and I thought we passed it well in the second half.

“I criticised the performance away from home at Millwall a couple of weeks ago when we showed a lack of discipline and lost the game, but today we showed the other side and that’s why we won the game.

“Full credit to the players, because they adapted to do what we had to today. Every man out there contributed; people like Jermaine will get the plaudits because of his goal, but Adam Clayton and Keith Southern were outstanding in midfield as was Danny Ward when he came on. Paul Dixon had a good game too; everyone did throughout the team.

“I said to the players five minutes before we went out that the only motivation they need is to make sure they stay in the team, We have ten others desperate to get in the team and everyone has to do what they can to keep playing. Adam Hammill, Calum Woods, Anthony Gerrard and Oliver Norwood are all unlucky today; probably the three unluckiest are Anton Robinson, Scott Arfield and Murray Wallace who didn’t even get in the 18. That is testament to the squad we have got; they are pushing each other week in, week out and that’s probably why we are doing well at the moment.” 

The only goal of the game came in the first half – shortly after Grayson had switched Lee Novak and Simon Church. 

“We have the flexibility in that Lee Novak will play anywhere for the team and Simon Church can play out wide. We set off with Simon on the right hand side and Novak down the middle, but we thought we could cause them different problems by moving Simon down the middle and within a couple of minutes it had worked. 

“It was an exciting line-up we put out with Scannell, Novak, Beckford and Church in the team. Sean showed a different side today; he worked extremely hard and showed quality with the pass that found Simon’s run. Jermaine got across the first man and did what he’s good at – putting the ball in the back of the net. It was a really nice goal.”

Simon was also happy with the concentration his side showed right until the full-time whistle, with goalkeeper Alex Smithies barely tested during the latter stages of the game.

“To get anything in the Championship you have to keep going right to the end. If you don’t concentrate it doesn’t matter who you’re playing – you will get punished. Full credit to the players – they showed a desire not to get beaten today.”

Goalscorer Jermaine Beckford was subbed after treatment from physio James Haycock in the second-half, but Grayson explained it doesn’t look too bad for the striker: 

“Jermaine went on a run and felt his hamstring a little bit, so it was more of a precaution. You’ll all get to know Jermaine’s mannerisms over the next few weeks! He’s scoring goals and I thought he worked well with the other strikers today – we were a constant threat every time we went forward.”

The Town boss also commented on the debut performance of Simon Church:

“I thought he did very well. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t get on the score-sheet, but he worked tirelessly hard on the right hand side and down the middle. When you’re away from home and you have two strikers that are constantly willing to run behind the defence, you have a great opportunity in a game. It would have been nice if he could have rounded off his performance with a goal, but I’m sure there are goals to come from him.”