Danny Cowley warns 'a good performance doesn't make Huddersfield Town a good team' after 3-0 win at Birmingham City

Danny Cowley enjoyed an excellent Huddersfield Town performance at St Andrew's, but warned one big win does not make them a good team.
DELIGHTED: Danny Cowley urges his Huddersfield Town players on against Birmingham CityDELIGHTED: Danny Cowley urges his Huddersfield Town players on against Birmingham City
DELIGHTED: Danny Cowley urges his Huddersfield Town players on against Birmingham City

The Terriers recorded their biggest away win of the season, sweeping Birmingham City aside 3-0 despite Karlan Grant seeing one of his two penalties saved.

It was their first win since the lockdown, but manager Cowley warned they need to back it up and find some consistency if they are to pull away from the relegation zone.

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“It was a good performance but it doesn't make you a good team,” he said. “That's the challenge now.

“We're pleased to perform well because we've taken a lot of criticism recently as a group, much of it justified, and in those situations you learn a lot about yourself.

“As people you're defined by the difficult times and how you respond to them.

“Now we have to move on quickly and try to take confidence from it.”

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Fraizer Campbell scored the second goal of the match, 52 seconds after Camp denied Grant from 12 yards, and Cowley thought his return was important. Steve Mounie came off the bench to create the third for Elias Kachunga.

“It was an important win and a good performance to boot, which was really pleasing,” reflected Cowley. “Having Fraizer back was important.

”He was exceptional and it was great to have Steve Mounie back as well.

“It's difficult to over-exaggerate the importance when you don't have a No 9 (as Huddersfield did not for the first two matches after the resumption). You need someone to play into and out to and also it allows us to get Karlan onto the left which is a super-strength of our team.

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“Previously we've had to take so many risks in our build-up.

“Tonight we were able to get a much better balance.

“On the back of missing the second penalty it could have been easy for us to feel sorry for ourselves but we didn't and we were able to score that important second goal soon after.”

As well as the win, Huddersfield's chances of avoiding relegation were further boosted by Wigan Athletic going into administration, which will bring an 12-point deduction this season unless it has no bearing on the outcome, in which case it will apply next.

Cowley lamented the news.

“I take no pleasure in it at all. I love football and I really feel sorry for the Wigan people,” he said. “They've been on a brilliant run and would have been top of the Championship if the league had started at Christmas.

“We don't want a get out of jail free card."

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