Town return to coast more confident on travels

Hit for six in Leicester on New Year’s Day, the Terriers were beaten by an identical scoreline at Nottingham Forest in February before conceding four times at Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of March.

In between, Huddersfield also lost 4-0 at Watford and 3-0 at Derby County to underline just how much they struggled on the road at times last season.

Robins was in charge for just two of those drubbings, the 6-1 loss at the City Ground and the 4-1 defeat at Brighton’s Amex. As he takes his Town side back to the south coast today, he reveals that the memories are still fresh.

He said: “I am anticipating a really good game (at Brighton). I remember last year when we played really well for 70 minutes and then all of a sudden we switched off, conceded and lost the game 4-1.

“That still rankles with me and I want the players – on the back of five good performances – to go there with plenty of confidence and take them on at their own game.

“Brighton have been playing a particular style of football for four or five years now, but I think you can see the comparisons between the two teams.

“The fans understand our intentions and what we are trying to do. From my perspective, that is a big help because it gives the players confidence.

“The lads are giving me everything they possibly can, but on occasions we are falling short like we did against Reading.”

Town have been a much more solid outfit since Robins, whose first league game in charge was that thrashing at Forest, started to exert his influence on the club.

Huddersfield may have lost back-to-back games recently, but they still sit in the top half of the Championship ahead of today’s long trip south.

That does not mean, however, that Robins intends resting on his laurels. The January transfer window is just around the corner and the Terriers’ chief has confirmed that the club are always on the lookout for ways to improve.

He said: “I know supporters will be hoping for incomings and if there is someone out there that will improve us and we can do a deal with then it is a possibility.

“If there is a deal to be done, in or out, that is for the benefit of the club, then it could get done.

“The players we have in the building are working their socks off and deserve the opportunities that they are getting.

“We are not standing still though, and are always looking to improve; otherwise we will end up going backwards.”

Joel Lynch misses today’s game as he serves a one-game ban for his dismissal against Reading.