George Danaher reviews Clarets Cup tie
- Town’s Under-17s Coach on Preston North End victory
- Danaher discusses team performance
- Win sees Young Terriers progress to Semi-Finals
Huddersfield Town Under-17s Coach George Danaher had a number of reasons to be pleased after his side progressed to the Semi-Finals of the 2020/21 Clarets Cup following victory over Preston North End.
The Young Terriers were dominant throughout the 90 minutes, with Donay O’Brien-Brady and Neo Eccleston sealing a well-deserved win for the side.
Danaher was quick to admit how pleased he was with his players performances.
“I’m really pleased with the lads.
“It’s a Cup game, so I put pressure on them to go out and win this and get through to the next round.
“The key area for me coming into today was concentration. We didn’t want to let them come back into the game and nick a goal, so it was important for the boys to concentrate in the later minutes of the game to ensure we got the win in the end.
“Cup games are a fantastic experience for the lads. For me and the staff to put the pressure on and build this game up and for the players to then go and perform together as a team was excellent.”
As well as their two goals, Town’s Under-19s had several chances on target throughout the game. Danaher discussed that although it was frustrating not to get more goals, it highlighted a very positive development in his side’s game.
“It’s always frustrating watching from the side when chances don’t go in, but one thing I will say is the chances we’re creating and the areas of the pitch that we’re getting into is something that I’m really pleased with.
“Even when we get a chance and we don’t score from it, we’re in position then to win the ball back and then go and have another chance which means we’re able to sustain pressure and keep the attacks going, which we did excellently in this game.”
The game against Preston also saw a return from injury for Under-17s defender Shane Maroodza.
“Shane was fantastic,” Danaher continued.
“He’s been brilliant since he’s come in, I think he’s developed loads and I have every confidence in him as a lad and as a player to go and perform in the game. It was quite an easy option for me to put him on in this game.
“He’s rehabbed really well and he looks in really good shape which is always a good sign, so there was no issue with throwing him back in there in a high profile, high pressure game.”
Danaher also took the time to speak about what he wants his side to take from today’s game.
“For me, in terms of these games, it’s all about seeing games out, especially when you’re winning.
“It’s looking at if you’re doing everything right at the back, if you’re doing all the little things that probably go unrecognised in games – the tackling, the talking, the communication, the stops and the counterattacks – in these games those bits are massive.
“I think the boys did that really well today.”
