Huddersfield Town B Team Manager Jon Worthington reviews latest pre-season fixture
- Glasgow Rangers 4-1 Huddersfield Town B Team
- Goal for Aaron Rowe created by Connor Mahoney
- Rangers named strong side for match at Rangers Training Centre
Jon Worthington insisted his Town B Team got a lot from the experience of facing a strong Rangers side in Glasgow, despite being beaten on the day.
With the Scottish giants naming a number of their substitutes from their previous European fixture, it was a real test for the Young Terriers, who got themselves on the scoresheet via Aaron Rowe thanks to a good pass from Connor Mahoney that was finished strongly.
Town created a number of chances, but heroics from the home goalkeeper and a missed penalty from Kieran Phillips after Danny Grant was tripped in the box gave the score line a more one-sided impression than the balance of play would suggest.
“The game was good, it was a good challenge” Worthington said.
“It’s a great environment up at Rangers’ training ground, they had a strong team out so the level was high, so overall it was a really good challenge and a really good game.
“I think it’s a good experience for our younger lads. In the game there were some really experienced players, it’s a really good test and gave our players a gauge of the level they’re currently playing at.
“They’ve shown the ability to compete at a high level on numerous occasions since the start of pre-season up until now, they’ve had lots of different experiences playing against experienced teams from the National League, League One and League Two, and now playing against some senior players from Rangers.
“They’ve shown they can compete in periods, and the next challenge is to show that more consistently over the course of 90 minutes.”
A period of change for the B Team with many of last seasons players having either gone out on loan withing the Football League or stepped up for contention in Danny Schofield’s First Team, Worthy said that his side have started this season well regardless, and the success of others provides current players a real example to emulate.
“I looked at our game last week and I think there was probably maybe one player from the team and squad from the Premier League Cup last season, and I think that shows that it’s like any squad, there’s transition and development – players will go out on loan and they’ll go into the First Team which is what we want, for them to make that next step and get that next challenge.
“It’s just that transition for the next group of players and I feel like it’s been a really good start to the season, and come the Premier League Cup games, we’ll be ready to implement a lot of the stuff they’ve shown in pre-season.
“All the players know that there’s opportunity if they show the potential and they maximise every aspect of every day at the Club. When an opportunity comes, they’ve got to grasp it.
“It was nice on Tuesday evening, we were together in a hotel in Glasgow watching the game and when Pat scored there was some cheers from the lads – it was really nice to see that. I think just that alone gives the lads a real carrot to aim for.”
