DW happy with defensive qualities on show
- David Wagner reviews defeat to Sheff Wed- Head Coach praises side's defensive display
- Wagner explains Hudson substitution
Huddersfield Town Head Coach David Wagner was happy with his side’s defensive display despite today’s 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
The Terriers negated one of the Sky Bet Championship’s most potent attacks for over 80 minutes, but a counter-attack was finished by danger-man Fernando Forestieri to condemn Wagner’s side to defeat.
“In my opinion, we saw a very interesting tactical game from two very good sides,” David told htafc.com after the final whistle.
“Both teams had very strong, focused defences and gave the offence of the other team no space to create something special. I’m sure nobody expected there to be so few goal chances in this game, but both offensive sides were not able to create.
“Defensively, it was a good step today. It was one of our strongest games against such a great offence with good individuals. We concentrated and worked together.
“I was very satisfied with how focused my side was defensively for nearly the whole game, but we lost our control and balance in one counter situation and that hurt. It happens and this is an experience we have to learn from. It was clear today that the team that scored first would win this game, which we said at half time. This one situation won the game.
“At the end Sheffield had two good opportunities and scored once, whereas maybe we had one through Phil Billing’s header.
“I have seen the clip now again and in my opinion, it is a clear handball. The player’s movement was to the ball and it hit him on his arm, not his chest. I believe this is a handball in an important situation.
“On the other side, they deserve the result for being so clinical. We weren’t able to create enough chances today to really hurt them.”
The Head Coach took Captain Mark Hudson off just before the hour mark after, already on a booking, he was strongly reprimanded for another foul on the eventual goal-scorer.
“I think it was very clear that if there was another situation where ‘Huddy’ was involved, the referee would send him off. We wanted to make sure we would end this game playing 11 v 11 and that is why we made the substitution,” David explained.
“To be fair ‘Craines’ came into the game and did very well, whilst ‘Lynchy’ was absolutely outstanding today in my opinion.”
Now it’s a quick turnaround to Tuesday night’s game at another of the division’s top teams in Middlesbrough.
David concluded: “We will try again on Tuesday to be successful against one of the top teams. We have to make sure that we bring this defensive performance again against Middlesbrough and hopefully we can create a little bit more in our offence.
“Our work is to make the gap between us and these top sides closer. We will do this over the next months and years, but at the moment there is a distance. This is nothing new for us. Our long term idea is not a 100m sprint; it’s a marathon. We have to go step by step.”
For ticket info on Tuesday's game at Middlesbrough, click HERE
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