Defender delighted with first win of the New Year
- Joel Lynch reviews win at Bolton
- Defender discusses change in mentality
- Wales international talks about rotation policy
Joel Lynch says that the Town squad hit all the targets that Head Coach David Wagner set ahead of Saturday’s 2-0 Sky Bet Championship win at Bolton Wanderers.
The centre back returned to the starting line-up to make his 100th league start for the Club and played his part in achieving all that Wagner wanted at the Macron Stadium.
“The Head Coach set us an aim before the game to put in a good performance, keep a clean sheet and get the three points. He set the goals and we achieved them, which is good. I’m very happy with the clean sheet myself,” Joel told htafc.com.
“We put in a good, solid performance and really it could have been a few more.”
Town had to weather an early push from the hosts before taking control around the 25 minute mark.
Lynch explained: “Bolton started on the front foot but we got through it, whereas maybe in the past we might not have got through a time like that.
“There will be times in the season where we have to get through difficult times and I thought we did well defensively.
“The Head Coach didn’t come in and have a go at us at half time; he just said what everyone was thinking. We all knew we had a few more gears to go up and we needed to get hold of the game by getting the ball down and passing it a bit more.
“We did well to get through it and progressed as the game went on; we really controlled it in the second half. It could have been four or five.”
The centre back played a big role in Joe Lolley’s 61st minute opener, threading a pass through the Bolton Wanderers press to set the goalscorer on his way.
He continued: “We’ve talked about that. As soon as we break the first line we look so dangerous as we got the ball in space and ran at them, with players coming in off the wings.
“I was just doing my job by setting the ball into midfield and Joe was in space, turned and the goal came from that.
“We get in those positions a lot as the players get more confident, but sometimes the players have to be less selfish; instead of shooting, we can set players in. As the season progresses that will come.”
Saturday’s win means the Terriers have gained seven points from the last available nine, but Joel admitted that the squad can’t settle for anything less given the winning mentality of the Head Coach.
“Before Saturday’s game we’d got four points from two games and we were all quite happy about it, but he wasn’t; he wanted all six. He’s instilling that in us and we’re now going into games to win.
“If we keep playing positively and keep teams on the back foot, we’ll stay positive. It does feel like we’re waiting for a 6-0 score-line because we’re so attacking. Hopefully we can keep solid in defence and keep improving up front.”
Wagner made another five changes to the starting line-up for the game, with Joel adding that every player is happy with the policy of rotation as it is paying dividends:
“It has worked so far! I was rested the other day (at QPR) and the Head Coach gave me a really good reason why given we had two games in three days. It worked, I felt better for it and I have no complaints.
“We’re using everyone and if the results keep coming, everyone will be happy. It’s a positive for everyone, as we all know we have a part to play.”
It's just £10 adults at the gate when HTAFC hosts Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday!
