Huddersfield Town

Senior Professional Development Coach Steve Eyre enjoyed leading the side in tonight’s pre-season friendly at Dulwich Hamlet – but admitted he was slightly frustrated at the 2-1 defeat.

“It was an entertaining game. We’ve had a long couple of days, but we were delighted to contest a game against a good non-league outfit that were champions in their division last season and are expected to go well again,” Steve told htafc.com.

“I thought the turnovers of possession made it hard, as we found ourselves in and out of possession constantly – as our opponents did as well. I’m not sure we had controlled possession up at the attacking end of the field, which is a disappointment. The turnover in possession is something we’ll be working on this week; I want us to stay in possession higher up the field, for longer. 

“Having said that we did have a lot of the ball tonight and we created enough chances to win a couple of games – never mind one.

“Dulwich didn’t threaten our goal too much, but they scored two headers from two crosses. That doesn’t happen to our team a lot, but it did happen tonight. They were obviously more clinical tonight.

“I would be more disappointed if we hadn’t created chances at the other end, but we did. I’m leaving more frustrated than disappointed. Their goalkeeper has made saves when I thought we could do better.”

One major positive for Steve was another goal for midfielder Matt Crooks, whose pre-season tally now stands at four.  

Steve continued: “Matt Crooks did score a goal, but sadly it turned out to be more of a consolation when it was a goal worthy of winning any game. We’ve asked him to play a number of roles tonight, but when he gets in the box he can finish like that. We have to work as a team – and he has to work as an individual – to get him in the penalty area, because he has a real eye for goal. He’s like a forward when he gets in there.”