'˜Small dog' Huddersfield Town like a fight, says David Wagner

HEAD COACH David Wagner last night insisted talk of Huddersfield Town winning automatic promotion to the Premier League is 'totally unrealistic'.
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner (Picture: Tony Johnson).Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner (Picture: Tony Johnson).
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner (Picture: Tony Johnson).

The Terriers, undoubtedly the second tier’s surprise package this season, head to rock-bottom Rotherham United tonight on the back of a run that has yielded 28 points from their last 11 league outings.

Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, the Championship’s top two who have both already lost to Town this season, sit six and seven points respectively ahead of the third-placed Yorkshire club with 16 games remaining.

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However, when asked ahead of the trip to the New York Stadium if automatic promotion was possible for Town, Wagner replied: “Is it possible? Yes. Is it realistic? No. Totally unrealistic.

“Look at our competitors, clubs like Newcastle, in terms of everything that they have, and then look at us.

“We are a small dog and we like to fight. It is possible we can beat one of these big dogs in one match. But this (automatic promotion) is still totally unrealistic.”

Pressed further on why a late push for the top two is so unlikely, Wagner added: “Okay, I know it is part of your job to be excited and write about it. But it is part of my job to calm everyone down and bring people back to a realistic view of the situation.”

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Wagner’s public stance may be that Huddersfield cannot reel in the top two, but his players are certainly not displaying signs of an inferiority complex.

Nine wins from 11 games underlines how much confidence is flowing through the Town squad, with perhaps the best indicator being the performances of Isaiah Brown ahead of tonight’s return to the club where he spent the first half of the season.

The 19-year-old has four goals in seven games since joining the Terriers from Chelsea and Wagner has been delighted by the loanee’s impact.

“I first saw Izzy when I was scouting Rotherham to prepare for the home match (that Town won 2-1 in September),” said the German. “I watched them twice live and I liked what I saw from him.

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“He had some skills that were interesting. He also had some things that I missed, to be fair. But I then saw Rotherham after we had played them and he was a player who excited me.

“We were able to bring him to us and he trusted us to develop him.

“For the first five weeks, it has worked. But we are both not finished.”

Asked if he planned to have a word with Brown about any possible ill-feeling from the Millers fans tonight over the decision to cut short his loan spell at the New York, Wagner replied: “Now you have said this to me, I will probably speak to him. It wasn’t in my head before.

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“Izzy was only there for four or five months and it wasn’t really his home club. But I will have a chat.”

In contrast to Town’s unexpected push for the Premier League, Rotherham’s campaign has been a miserable affair.

Just four wins and 17 points from 31 games means League One is the Millers’ likely destination come May.

Despite that, coach Matt Hamshaw believes Paul Warne, in interim charge since Kenny Jackett became the second manager to leave the New York this season, is the man who can turn things around.

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“I think he has got all the trademarks of being a manager,” said Hamshaw. “That is his decision. It is not my decision. I can speak only on what I see, as an ex-player and now as a member of staff.

“But, for me, he has all the tools. A manager, for me, is someone who can get the best out of people, who is respected, who has good organisational skills. He ticks all those boxes. I am sure he can do the job.”

Wagner, for his part, is expecting a tough encounter tonight despite the home side’s lowly league position.

“Rotherham can stay up,” added the Huddersfield head coach. “Why not? It is not over until it is over. Look at last season for what is possible for teams near the bottom of the table.

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“They have shown in the past that they believe they have a chance. We have to make sure that we show everyone that we have something we are fighting for.

“We should not go into the game hoping to meet an opponent who has given up. This will not be one of the nicest football matches. That is not what I am expecting. It will be a game where we have to work and really fight for our success.”

Jonathan Hogg (groin) is out for between two and three weeks for Town, while Lee Frecklington will also not be risked tonight by Warne despite making good progress from ankle surgery.

Last six games: Rotherham United WLLLLL Huddersfield Town LWWWWW.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).

Last time: Rotherham United 1 Huddersfield Town 1; April 19, 2016; Championship.