Town must dig deep says unhappy chief Powell

CHRIS POWELL has promised to “lead from the front” as Huddersfield Town look to bounce back from the worst week of his reign.
Chris PowellChris Powell
Chris Powell

The Terriers slumped to a hugely disappointing derby defeat at home to Rotherham United on Saturday.

It followed back-to-back losses on the road at Charlton Athletic and Brentford that had seen Town slide back into the bottom half of the table.

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For Powell, the trio of defeats – which saw his men score just once and concede nine times – was a big disappointment.

“It was an end to a poor week for us,” said the Londoner, whose side travel to Birmingham City this weekend.

“We were lacking in everything you need in a game like this. Not just it being a derby but where Rotherham were in the league.

“We just didn’t perform and that wasn’t great. But now we have to put this week behind us.”

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Town’s recent struggles were made all the more galling for Powell by his side having headed to his former club on February 28 sitting 12th in the table.

Prior to beating Reading four days before heading to Charlton to move into the top half, Huddersfield had only managed a couple of hours in 12th place this season.

That had been in November after a goalless lunchtime draw at Sheffield Wednesday. By 5pm, results elsewhere had seen the Terriers fall two places to 14th. No wonder, therefore, that Powell has been so upset to see his men surrender a position that, compared to much of this season, could be considered to be lofty.

He said: “There are 10 games to go and we have to dig deep with regards performing again. The thing is we know we can do it.

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“Look at our home game before Rotherham. We were very good (against Reading) and got into the top half. But, maybe, that gave us a false sense of security.

“To me, we have always been embroiled in what was happening below us rather than above. And after the week we just had, that is quite clearly the case.

“I have to lead from the front as manager and we have to perform a lot better than that in the remaining 10 games.”

Nahki Wells is in light training but remains a big doubt for Birmingham, while Harry Bunn has an “outside chance” of being available after sitting out the derby loss to Rotherham.