Huddersfield Town: Opponents will dictate Terriers’ use of lone frontman

The Terriers’ manager opted for a 4-5-1 formation in last Friday’s heartbreaking defeat at Cardiff City.

With Town returning to home soil tonight against Nottingham Forest, a switch to a two-man attack could have been expected even with Jordan Rhodes unlikely to have recovered from the hamstring injury that forced the Scotland international out of the trip to Wales.

But Grayson has suggested that the priority for Huddersfield on their return to the second tier after an 11-year absence has to be remaining solid and that sticking with a line-up that includes three central midfielders may be his preferred option.

He said: “When we looked at the squad last year, we saw a better mix was needed in midfield and I felt things worked well at Cardiff.

“Oliver Norwood is a good passer of the ball, Keith Southern brings us experience and enthusiasm while Adam Clayton does a bit of both.

“I was happy with how all three of them played down there. In fact, I felt the whole set-up of the team was good.”

Asked if Rhodes suffering his injury a couple of days before the trip to Wales had coloured his thinking and led to Lee Novak playing as the lone frontman, Grayson replied: “No, not at all.

“We would have played that way even if Jordan had been fit and available. We will play whatever system we feel suits us in terms of who the opposition are.

“I realise some may say you should always play two strikers up front at home, regardless of anything else. But sometimes you need three in midfield to make sure that you don’t get overrun.

“No disrespect to League One, but most times last season it was about what Huddersfield Town did. This year, we have to be more aware of the opposition simply because of the quality that there is in the Championship.

“Nottingham Forest fall into that category. They are a massive club and it shows how far we have come that we will play teams like Cardiff and Forest week-in, week-out.

“Forest have new owners that have given the club a new lease of life.

“They have spent a fair bit of money but we can’t wait for the game to come round.”

Town’s defeat at Cardiff came courtesy of a stoppage-time strike by Mark Hudson and Grayson added: “I felt we equipped ourselves very well.”

Last six games: Huddersfield Town WWLDLL, Nottingham Forest DLLWWW.

Last time: Huddersfield Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1; October 2, 2007; Championship.

Referee: T Bates.