Huddersfield Town: Wagner reflects on Hogg's costly red card

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN head coach David Wagner rued his side's inabilities to cope with playing with 10 men en route to a bitterly disappointing 5-2 FA Cup third-round replay exit at Brian McDermott's Reading.
Huddersfield Town chief David WagnerHuddersfield Town chief David Wagner
Huddersfield Town chief David Wagner

Town were in the driving seat after taking a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes against the Royals, thanks to strikes from Jamie Paterson and Tommy Smith, with the latter scoring his first goal for the club.

But the game hinged on the 27th-minute dismissal of midfielder Jonathan Hogg, who brought down Matej Vydra as he bore down on goal.

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The Czech Republic marksman rubbed considerable salt in the wounds by going onto help himself to a hat-trick to double his seasonal tally in one evening.

After Hogg’s indiscretion, Lucas Piazon fired home a sweet free-kick before Vydra took over with a tidy treble with substitute Alex Fernandez adding a late fifth for the Royals.

It ensured Town missed out on a home tie with Walsall in the fourth round with their hopes of reaching round five of the competition for the first time in eight years being well and truly nailed.

Wagner said: “There was passion, speed and good football from my team when we played 11 against 11. But the game changed completely after the red card. We played badly after that.

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“I accept the red card, but I don’t like to speak about this decision because it will not change anything.

“It makes no sense to speak about it, whether it was correct or not correct. But, for sure, it changed the game.”

He added: “The mistake came before. When we hit the ball, we have to step up so the player who chases the ball is offside.

“I think in this moment, Joel Lynch was a little bit too deep and this allowed the player to stay onside. After that, it was a good move from Vydra – but it was a mistake from our side.

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“Until then, Joel had played a great game and even started the second goal with the long ball to Nahki (Wells).

“I know Lucas Piazon, because he played in Germany for Frankfurt. He is one of the best free-kick takers and he took a very good one; there was no chance for Joe Murphy or our wall.”