Manager delighted with narrow victory
Mark Robins expressed his delight at maintaining a clean sheet in what was his 50th game in charge of Town, with the Terriers running out 1-0 victors against Wigan Athletic.
The Terriers had suffered four successive defeats prior to the match, compounded by the 5-1 defeat to Leeds last week, but Robins was thrilled as Town took all three points against the Latics
He said: “It was better than last week. We got a clean sheet and it was massively important to bounce back; we can thoroughly put that to bed.”
On what was a wet and windy afternoon at the John Smith’s Stadium, chances were few and far between for both sides. Both struggled to keep the ball under control, but Robins was pleased with how Town managed the surroundings.
“The conditions were like what you would see on the park in 1975 and the wind made a difference, but I think we weathered it better than Wigan. We created better chances than Wigan and we thoroughly deserved the clean sheet as well as the three points. I’m thoroughly delighted.”
Joel Lynch, Jonathan Hogg, Adam Hammill and James Vaughan all made timely returns to the squad following injury.
“We were all a bit tetchy on Monday morning but we got a decent workout this week. We weren’t able to get onto the grass on Thursday or Friday, but it’s good to get everybody back.
“Danny Ward was really unlucky to miss out and with Nahki (Wells) we are trying to get him games and get him up to speed as quickly as possible. Danny is a really capable player and he gives us another dimension.
“He brings other players into play that can make a difference and I have got food for thought for Tuesday night. Hopefully the conditions are a bit better and we can enjoy our football a bit more than we did today.”
Town did create some chances in the second half, notably from distance with Oliver Norwood who twice came close from around 30 yards.
“We could have had one or two more. Ollie Norwood shoots and the keeper makes a good save, then with the second one it looked for all the world that it was going to hit the back of the net but it’s clipped the bar and fallen into the ‘keeper’s arms."
Town’s breakthrough finally did come in the 84th minute when a weak Wigan clearance fell to Adam Clayton on the edge of the area whose first touch set him up for a low drive into the bottom left corner of the goal.
“We talked about getting him more advanced and further up the pitch and he’s capable of doing that, so I’m glad it fell to him. It was a really good strike and a really good time to score as well.”
The result moves Town up to 13th in the table, three points behind the Latics, going into the visit to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
“The Championship is up and down and you have got to take the points when we can. We have to fight and scrap which I thought we did today and I am absolutely delighted for Alex Smithies with the clean sheet after last week which is a distant memory now and we can all move on.”
