Steve disappointed with Cup exit
Huddersfield Town’s Development Squad fell at the first hurdle of the U21 Premier League Cup on Wednesday afternoon.
Sheffield Wednesday scored a last minute winner to settle a tight contest 2-1.
Jordan Sinnott had put the Terriers ahead, but a brace from Mani Dieseruvwe saw the Owls progress to the next round.
“It isn’t nice to go out in the first round, but the disappointment will only be temporary for the players.” Steve told htafc.com. “We will work out quickly why we didn’t get the right result and aim to put those things right in training over the weekend ahead of the game against Derby.
“Our challenge now is to rectify the mistakes made during the match to help maintain our excellent league form.”
Town fielded a strong squad with the likes of Adam Clayton and Anthony Gerrard involved, and created a number of good openings.
“Despite not playing as well as we have been, I still felt we had enough chances to win the game,” said Steve. “We passed up a number of good opportunities and I think the lads disrespected the clock rather than the opposition. We took our time to do things and that allowed Wednesday to get into the game, and I take my hat off to them for staying in the it and getting the winner.
“The lads didn’t play poorly, but they were complacent and got going too late in the game,” he added.
“We allowed Wednesday into our 18 yard box too often and for the first time this season weren’t clinical at the other end. That usually creates frustration then disappointment and this proved to be. We are a high intensity team and they will be reminded of that in training. We have no given right to always play well and be successful and credit must be given to our opponents for capitalising on a match we controlled for long periods.
“We could have been a few goals up before we actually did go ahead courtesy of Jordan Sinnott’s brilliant strike. We created 19 goal scoring chances throughout the game and we should have put the game to bed after going ahead. We didn’t, though, and it made the game tighter.
“It gave Sheffield Wednesday additional encouragement to go with their own efforts and play, to come at us. To lose the game in the last minute is a big lesson for us for not approaching the game in a harder and quicker fashion.”
Town’s Development Squad returns to U21 Professional Development League 2 North action this Monday at Canalside Sports Complex when they welcome Derby County.
“It gives us a chance to put right some of the wrongs,” Steve said. “We will train before the match and watch the footage from the cup game and when Monday comes along we won’t be talking about the defeat.”
Town’s team (4-4-2):
Ed Wilczynski; Jake Carroll, Anthony Gerrard, James Burke, Tom Smith (c); Dale Hopson (Robbie McIntrye, 69), Adam Clayton, Duane Holmes, Jordan Sinnott; Daniel Carr, Max Leonard (Paul Mullin, 66)
Unused substitutes:
Sam Guthrie, Will Boyle
