Huddersfield v Wigan: Smithies looking forward to home comforts

Ten games and exactly 200 days have passed since the Terriers were last able to celebrate a victory in front of their own fans at the John Smith’s Stadium.

No other Championship club has had to endure such a long wait but, as Huddersfield tonight go in search of that elusive first win on home soil since Barnsley were thrashed 5-0 on March 1, Alex Smithies is adamant that nothing can be gained by looking back.

Instead, Town’s longest serving player insists everyone at the West Yorkshire outfit has to look forward to what he firmly believes will be a bright future.

“We want that home win, of course we do,” said the 24-year-old Huddersfield goalkeeper ahead of Wigan Athletic’s visit tonight. “But you can also read too much into it.

“Basically, we have to start from now. Each game is a new one and we can’t look back. The fans did that (against Boro in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat) and were fantastic. They really got behind us.

“The fans seemed to appreciate the effort the lads put in on the pitch. Now, though, we have to move on quickly.

“Hopefully, the fans will put on the same atmosphere for Wigan as they did against Boro. The fans have really responded well to the manager.”

Chris Powell, the sixth permanent manager Smithies has played under since making his first-team debut aged just 17, is the man who earlier this month was charged with reviving the fortunes of Huddersfield.

The shock departure of Mark Robins a few hours into the new season had taken the Terriers board by surprise. Although Academy manager Mark Lillis did a manful job of filling in while the search got under way, there is no doubt that Powell’s arrival has boosted spirits around the club.

As for the man himself, the one-time England international admitted after the defeat to Boro – his first game at the helm – that there was “work to do” in the quest to turn the club around.

The manner of Saturday’s defeat – a needless penalty conceded in the 92nd minute handed the Teessiders all three points – clearly frustrated Powell but Smithies believes there were still plenty of positives to take from the afternoon.

“The manager was disappointed after the game,” said the Town goalkeeper. “He came in the dressing room afterwards and said, ‘I could shout and bawl at you but there is no blame game at this club’.

“He then said there was stuff to build on. Luckily, we now have a game straight away against Wigan to bounce back and get that win.

“I thought there were positives from the Middlesbrough game. Anyone could see how hard we are working for each other. I had been talking to someone a couple of days before Middlesbrough and said we needed to be a bit more resilient – and a bit more ruthless.

“I think we did do that. They got a wonder strike and a penalty so I think we were more resilient.

“In terms of blocking shots and defending, we were very resilient and very ruthless in terms of not letting them through. (New signing) Mark Hudson helped in that respect.

“He is a real leader and very experienced. He is loud and vocal, which you have to be as a defender. You have to boss the others around you to make sure they are in the right position.

He put his head in there and made some great tackles. Hopefully, we can start keeping those clean sheets.”

Town’s last shut-out of the opposition came 12 days after that last home win, when the Yorkshire side claimed a goalless draw at Charlton Athletic.

Since then, 18 games have passed during which the Huddersfield defence has been breached at least once. It is a record that needs to change and Smithies believes there was enough in the Boro defeat to suggest it soon will.

“Middlesbrough had a lot of possession but we didn’t give them too many clear chances,” he said. “That is going to be vital. I know we conceded a couple of goals but on another day we could have won that 1-0.

“There was a togetherness I had probably not felt in the last year. The atmosphere is better, people are working for each other. So, while losing was disappointing, I felt there was a lot to take from it.

“We also had a bit more fight in us. The lads put their bodies on the line, sticking their head in there to block and throwing themselves into tackles.

“We have to pick up points in what is a very tough league. We were seconds away from doing that versus Boro.”

Last six games: Huddersfield Town LWDLLL, Wigan Athletic LLLWWL.

Referee: S Stockbridge (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Huddersfield Town 1 Wigan Athletic 0; February 8, 2014; Championship.