Birmingham v Huddersfield Town: Wagner adamant that Town are on right track

AN introduction to English football that included a trio of clashes with sides chasing promotion to the Premier League always suggested a tough start awaited David Wagner.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Dec 2015, 05:05 BST
New German head coach David Wagner detects promising signs in the Huddersfield Town camp (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).New German head coach David Wagner detects promising signs in the Huddersfield Town camp (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).
New German head coach David Wagner detects promising signs in the Huddersfield Town camp (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

Sure enough, the first of those two games against Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough failed to yield so much as a point for the new Huddersfield Town chief.

Despite that, the German is adamant that progress has been made and that a change of fortune is just around the corner for a club back in the bottom three for the first time since mid-September.

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“We have a lot of work to do,” said Wagner ahead of today’s trip to sixth-placed Birmingham City, “But the atmosphere is much more positive than it usually is after two defeats.

“Everyone knows we are going the right way, but equally everyone knows we have to change something and work on things because we don’t get results.

“The message is very clear: we have to score goals and get results. We have to be more clinical. It is very good that no one is satisfied; this is perfect for work.”

Wagner’s start will not get any easier today with the trip to 
St Andrews, even allowing for the Blues having won just three of nine home games this term.

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After that, however, a double-header against Bristol City and Rotherham United – two sides also at the wrong end of the table – offer an opportunity to put some points on the board.

The Terriers’ head coach added: “We have had a good training week – intensive, hard work. We feel that we are prepared for the game against Birmingham.

“It will be a hard match and we will have to work very hard to get the performance and result. But this is what we will do.

“We have a lot of targets for the Birmingham game that we will try to get. We would like to have our first clean sheet together and we would like to get our first points through our first victory. We know that we will have to work very hard for this, but I am sure we will do this.”

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Ishmael Miller is back after a groin problem, but Nahki Wells is expected to get the nod up front in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Wagner prefers to utilise.

Goals have been a major problem for Town, who have netted just 17 in 18 games. Six sides have scored fewer, but only Charlton of those have conceded more than the 28 let in by the Terriers.

Team news: Last six games: Birmingham City LLDWLL, Huddersfield Town LLDLLL.

Referee: S Martin (Staffordshire).

Last time: Birmingham City 1 Huddersfield Town 1; March 14, 2015; Championship.

Related topics:Huddersfield TownPremier LeagueBirminghamTerriersMiddlesbroughSheffield Wednesday