Manager ready for Brighton challenge
Huddersfield Town Manager Mark Robins knows his side will have to be at their very best if they are to gain a positive result against Brighton.
The Seagulls have won their last two matches and are hot on the heels of sixth placed Reading.
Town can take inspiration from their last meeting with Oscar Garcia’s men when they showed plenty of resilience to earn a point: “They are a very capable team and our clean sheet and draw in Brighton was a very good result.
“Since then, their team has changed quite dramatically, but they are still a quality side. They have got players of experience in Keith Andrews, Matthew Upson and Gordon Greer mixed with youth such as Solly March and Jake Forster-Caskey.
“Their squad is outstanding and whatever team they put out we know that it will be a big challenge. When they play well they are a decent team, but this is the Championship and as we know any team can beat anyone on their day. We need to have one of our days. It is a great test and the reason why we are in the Championship.
“We are down to two centre backs and again it is a challenge for them to perform,” he added. “Coincidentally, the two lads that will come in did so at Brighton earlier in the season and were fantastic.”
With just four games of the season remaining, Mark believes his players are capable of keeping the Terriers in the Championship.
“We are in a relegation battle and we have known that for a while,” he said. “We have got decent players here though, and even though they are young and relatively inexperienced they are capable. We need to show the supporters that we can win a game of football. We are in scrap for the remainder of the season.
“In the coming weeks we have got three more big challenges and we need to pick up points. Let’s step up to the mark.”
A win over the Easter weekend from one of Town’s two fixtures would ease relegation fears ahead of matches against Leicester City and Watford.
“After tomorrow and Monday the outlook may be completely different,” Mark said. “Mathematically it is uncomfortable; we would much rather be clear of safety by now. From the position that we were in at the turn of the year, it is disappointing to be where we are now. We haven’t played bad football at times, but the Ipswich game left a real sour taste in the mouth for everybody concerned; the players weren’t happy.
“Whereas the Derby game was a one off, we lost two players and from that point didn’t have a chance of winning. However, if some of the stuff prior to those incidents had gone our way the game could have changed. Had Danny Ward being awarded a penalty they would have lost a man; had Nahki Wells tried to go round the ‘keeper he may have scored or won a penalty. It was very close to being flipped on its head.
“We are ready to put a shift in on Friday in front of our supporters, who will be right behind us.”
