Midfielder talks after the 1-0 win at Millwall
Adam Clayton is looking to use Saturday’s 1-0 away win at Millwall as a platform for further success during the 2013/14 Championship season.
Clayton played all 90 minutes as the Terriers sealed a win at the Den courtesy of striker James Vaughan’s fourth of an embryonic season.
“Firstly, to get the first three points of the season so early on is pretty good,” Clayton told htafc.com.
“Regardless of their bad start - I’ve been here before and I know it’s a very, very tough place to come and get three points. I think we dug in at points and at others we played our football.
“We won the game playing how we should play and it’s promising that we came here and played our football in such a hostile environment against a good team.
“I never thought they were going to score, barring perhaps the last ten minutes. At that point Vaughany had hurt his ribs and it was pretty much ‘every man for himself’ in the box. We dug in though.
“Perhaps last year they would have got the equaliser, but this time it didn’t. The lads at the back this year have really stepped it up, both in terms of defending and passing it out from the back. It bodes well for the year.”
Clayton is currently excelling as the attack-minded midfielder in the new-look 3-5-2 formation and admitted the shape seems to suit him:
“Playing in that position gives me more options; when I receive a pass I can go in any direction. Hopefully I’m making bigger impacts in the game – I feel I am – so the next step is to get off the mark goals-wise and maybe get into double figures this season. I really want to push on in this attacking midfield role.”
Adam also credited the role summer recruit Jonathan Hogg is playing in the engine room:
“He does all the stuff that perhaps other players don’t like doing and he’s infectious, so everyone else wants to do the same. He’s come in and done well.
“He runs something stupid like 22km a game and I think that rubs off on other players too. I think Ollie (Norwood) has stepped up his game; his passing has really come on. When they are playing it helps me get on the ball and we can try to be offensive.”
The 24 year-old now wants to use Town’s first three point haul of the league season as a building block for further success, starting with next Saturday’s home game against AFC Bournemouth.
“If we can back this win up with a win over Bournemouth next weekend, it’s a real platform. Last season we came to Millwall, had a man sent-off and lost 4-0, so we’ve improved there straight away. Bournemouth have just entered this league and, without meaning any disrespect to them, they are the type of games you need to be winning if you want to achieve anything in the division.”
