Leon Wobschall: Move along, nothing to see here - Huddersfield Town rotation is just the David Wagner way

One of the teams who have complained about the ‘lack of integrity’ shown by Town are Blackburn Rovers.

Here’s a question. If Rovers had not conceded a ‘94th-minute’ goal in their fixture at the John Smith’s Stadium on New Year’s Eve which ended in a 1-1 draw as opposed to a 1-0 away win, would they have been as vehement in their criticism of events at St Andrew’s, which saw a relegation rival in Birmingham City beat a much-changed Town line-up 2-0?

Probably not.

When your team is down among the dead men, you cry foul about anything. Desperation rules. If Blackburn or Nottingham Forest had been in an identical position to Huddersfield on Saturday - with play-off participation booked and players able to be rested - they would have done exactly the same. Of course they would.

The EFL have now asked Huddersfield to explain their team selection at Birmingham leaving you to wonder if they have really done their homework in terms of analysing the squad rotation system employed by Town at various stages this season.

Earlier this term, a ‘second string’ Huddersfield side - showing seven changes from the side who won a league game at Rotherham four days earlier - put in an outstanding performance to draw 0-0 with Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round. The visiting line-up contained Sergio Aguero, John Stones and Jesus Navas, among others, with Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane coming off the bench.

Rotation has served Town well this season, it is the Wagner way and something which foreign coaches have shown a propensity to do in the ruthless and unrelenting Championship.

David Wagner is merely being consistent. He has regularly utilised all members of his squad and it is not as if any of those who lined up at Birmingham were untried and untested kids. Quite the opposite.

Nine of those who took the field against City also started at St Andrew’s and none could be described as rookies.

There are several other examples of Wagner making a raft of changes.

Back on January 2, Wagner made seven changes for a game at Wigan - two days after the home game with Blackburn on December 31.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics. Below in brackets are the number of appearances made so far this season, including cup and substitute appearances, by the Town team who Wagner started with at Birmingham. Those figures do not account for injuries or suspensions either.

Coleman (8), Cranie (19), Hudson (26), Smith (43), Holmes-Dennis (19), Whitehead (19), Billing (28), Bunn (19), Payne (27), Lolley (22), Quaner (18).

Not enough nous and experience for some, clearly - given by the reactions from Nottingham and Blackburn.

It was a Huddersfield side who probably showed more collective fight than Blackburn’s opponents Aston Villa mustered in a hopeless showing on Saturday - despite a line-up on paper which looked strong.

Pathetic was the word which Steve Bruce chose to describe Villa’s performance, with Blackburn being the beneficiaries. It seemed most of the visiting players were metaphorically on the beach with their flip-flops on, judging by that insipid display.

As for the EFL, well they surely have more important matters to attend to.