Crawley Town v Huddersfield Town: Ben Wiles on how Michael Duff is getting him back to his best

With five goals and two assists, Wiles leads the way in front of goal for Town this season but like every player in their colours at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium, he will be under pressure on Saturday.

Huddersfield need to respond after last week's limp FA Cup exit at non-league Tamworth prompted lots of "honest" conversations behind closed doors at Canalside.

Wiles says it is an approach which is getting the best out of him again.

Friday was the second anniversary of his goal in Rotherham’s win at Sheffield United – the club his grandfather, Eddie Colquhoun, served with such distinction. It would be 641 days before he scored again.

In that time Wiles underwent ankle surgery, was sold to Huddersfield, relegated with them and worked under six managers, caretakers included, ranging in age from 40-year-old Matt Taylor to 74-year-old Neil Warnock.

In Michael Duff he seems to at last have found one who can get the best out of him again.

"I've not dealt with a lot of managers so far but honesty does go a long way in a dressing room, especially in terms of gaining the respect and trust of lads," he says of the Town coach's methods.

"Sometimes a decision has been made and you're left wondering why. It can get in your head and eat you alive. You're in this bubble of constantly doubting yourself and your confidence goes.

"If you've got someone who is honest with you, at least you know why the decision's been made and you can reflect on that aspect."

And Duff has picked Wiles for every League One game this season, all but September's defeat at Reading from the start. It is in contrast to an unsurprisingly bitty 2023-24 given the chopping and changing in the dugout.

"My experience at Rotherham was mainly just with one manager (Paul Warne)," says Wiles. "Matt Taylor came in (in October 2022) and it was a good experience with him, he was also very honest.

"It's more just getting my confidence back but this is what the gaffer's given me through game-time, being positive and telling me when I've done something bad as well.

"There's certain ways of looking at things and dealing with different situations. If things like this do happen again, I think I'm in a better mindset to deal with it."

Now it is up to Wiles and co to show their honesty to the fans. Many in Saturday’s away end will also have taken time off, battled traffic and shelled out at the pump and turnstile to be badly let down at Tamworth eight days earlier.

"When we lose it's never nice because our fans are always backing us, always there with us, making noise and saying the right things to spur us on," says Wiles.

"It's not a nice thing when people travel all that way and we don't give them the performance they deserve. It's always on our mind.

"Hopefully we can put it right this Saturday."