Huddersfield Town chief Martin Drury reveals what Joe Taylor said to him after brace against Oxford United
HUDDERSFIELD Town head coach Martin Drury has revealed that reborn striker Joe Taylor was hard on himself despite continuing his fine run with a superb brace as the Terriers went top of League One following a 3-1 win over Oxford United at the Accu Stadium.
Town led 1-0 through Bojan Radulovic's second goal in successive home matches, but Taylor missed two chances to seemingly seal the victory, including a huge opportunity in front of goal.
U's substitute Caitlin O'Donkor soon levelled for the U's, but Taylor dusted himself down to score a deadly header and a clinical low drive to seal the victory and take his season's goal tally to five in four matches.
The forward was afforded a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.
Drury, whose side welcome Notts County on Saturday, said: "We had a setback. We conceded a goal from something that we spoke about having to defend at that moment, and we didn't. We just switched off for a split second, so that was disappointing.
"But I thought the way the players responded to that is a testament to them and their team spirit that they've got. And they're still pushing for more by the end. So there's good signs for us to build on.
"Joe came off and I said: 'well done' and he said: 'I was bloody rubbish tonight!'.
"So I said: 'look, you were fine, Joe, don't worry about it'. I thought the way he worked without the ball, as all the team did, was first class.
"Oxford are a good side, and if you've got one or two players not quite at it and not quite invested in what you're doing as a group, they will hurt you.
"I thought the way the players controlled the game, at times even without the ball, was a testament to them as men of how they worked, their spirit, their togetherness.
"I thought they were excellent from that point of view, and I thought we looked a real threat when we went forwards, whether that be through playing slow or being really quick on the counter-attack.
"I thought we looked a real threat, particularly second half. So, yes, credit to the players.
"I don't think footballers win this game. I think men win this game in football.
"I thought their performance was really professional. We spoke about being relentless, no matter what happened in the game."