Huddersfield Town digest: Nagle, Breitenreiter and Corberan on survival fight
Plus injury news, a predicted lineup for the Rotherham game, and thoughts on Town's slide into the bottom three
You only had to look at the respective sides’ form over the season to predict that West Brom would have too much for Huddersfield Town, so Sunday’s result was not really a shock. The team in 22nd should not be expecting to beat the team in 5th. It’s possible, as we have seen to our annoyance elsewhere, but not the expectation.
The issue is that Town made a rod for their own back with that dreadful performance against Cardiff, compounded by a second week running of watching the scores coming in from Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs with a growing sense of horror. Town needed something against West Brom, and had it in their hands, only to let it slip away.
That has left them in the bottom three, a point shy of safety but still within reach of a cluster of sides ahead of them in the table, some of whom they still have to play.
The countdown to save the season is now very much ticking. There are nine games to go, and fans will be expecting three points not just against bottom side Rotherham this weekend, but against everyone they face for the rest of the campaign, up to and including promotion contenders Ipswich on the final day.
Will they get nine wins? Of course not, and there will be plenty more days of recrimination and criticism ahead. The reasons Town have struggled this season deserve a more detailed run-down elsewhere, which we will deliver at the appropriate time, but suffice it to say that with one notable exception, Town have been fighting gravity ever since dropping back down from the Premier League.
Things had to change under the new ownership to break the habit, but it has not come quickly enough to rescue them from another nerve-wracking season. We keep hearing about the ambitions the club have for the future, but if they go down it obviously sets an awful lot of that back — quite considerably.
There’s still an argument that Town are in a slightly false position, having had the hardest run of games since Christmas of any of the sides currently sitting between 16th and 23rd. But, naturally, that means they now have, on paper, the easiest run of games of anyone in that same position. If they end up going down, they have only themselves to blame.
What’s been said
“In the dressing room at half time we had a really good atmosphere and we all knew we wanted to play the same style like first half. We didn’t change anything. Yes, [West Brom] changed the formation a little bit second half, but it was not bad for our principles because we could make pressure the same way.
“The first goal was really really unlucky: we’ve seen the picture and it’s close, but it’s offside. But we have to defend the goal better because it was almost the same goal as against Cardiff. We were four-on-one in the box and there was no contact on the player.
“The second goal … is such an unlucky set piece, and then we all know what happened in the heads of a team standing at the bottom of the league.
“We created many chances second half and could also have scored maybe three or four goals. That was also the difference: they scored from 30 metres and we didn’t score from 10, and [that makes it] difficult to win.
“The first half was maybe one of the best of the season, I think, but we have to play over 90 minutes like this, and that’s what we have to speak about. We have to do this better. 45 minutes is not enough to win against a strong team like West Brom.”
— Andre Breitenreiter, at his post-match press conference following West Brom
“I’ve not talked to Andre yet, I’ll talk to him [Monday] and get a download about what happened. We just fell apart; it was just amazing that our guys…we’ve got some good quality in there. Right now I know there’s a lot of frustration with people commenting on social media but we put a lot of firepower in this last January. The reality is we’re just not seeing it now. That’s frustrating.
“It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to try more when July comes, but right now we’re in a fight. We’ve got nine matches and I’m not any more happier than anybody else is, because I don’t like to lose and I don’t want to move down. I don’t even want to think about that right now.
“I’m going to be out there in a couple of weeks and we’re going to roll up our sleeves and push everybody to the very end.
“Next year is going to be a completely different story because we have full control now, I think we know what it is to do, we’ve got to make certain changes — we’re making a lot of changes right now in fact — but the reality is they’re just not coming fast enough.”
— Kevin Nagle, on X, responding to Town’s 1-4 defeat to West Brom
“First of all, before I start, when I walked in here I saw the name that Huddersfield has put to this room, which is the name of Eleanor, somebody who worked with me.
“I am very happy to see this gesture from Huddersfield, because in my time here she was an important person. Of course, the loss of her made everyone who was working here in that time sad, so I think it’s a nice gesture from Huddersfield to put the name on the room for her.”
— West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, at his post-match press conference in the Eleanor Haigh Media Room
“I know a lot of players in the [Town] dressing room, and some of these players had a massive impact in my career as a coach.
“Making a play-off final is not about you only; you try to do your best but we achieved that play-off because we had a lot of people who were working here before [who are no longer at the club], and some of the players we faced today had a massive contribution.
“For example Hogg will be always a very special person for me, because when I was working here, as a captain he was leading the dressing room in the best way I can ask. Lee Nicholls, Matty Pearson, Tom Lees, Josh Koroma, Sorba Thomas…still they are here, many players that helped me.
“You always wish them the best and if they keep competing how they are doing right now I think they will achieve their target to survive in the Championship.”
— Carlos Corberan, on Town’s survival prospects, at his post-match press conference
“Jon [Worthington] has now returned to his pivotal role as academy manager as we continue to work towards the expansion of our youth system, and the recent report we’ve had from our latest audit was outstanding. That is testament to the work his entire team are putting in daily to ensure we achieve what we want to.
“Alongside the academy expansion, we have so many other big plans for the summer that I’m excited to tell you about in due course. Many of these should significantly improve your experience when attending match days by providing difference choices in how you enjoy games, an improved experience in our shop and much, much more.”
— Town chief executive Jake Edwards, on things behind the scenes at Town, in his programme notes for the West Brom game
“Candidly we have agreed to offer more substantial assistance to [Town Women] without taking control. I don’t believe in operating mediocre performing football clubs and we need to get Men’s Town right. This takes time, resources, and investment. It does not mean we still can’t assist the Women’s club but our focus at the moment is the Men’s club.”
— Kevin Nagle, on X, about the club's relationship with Town Women
“We understand the current mens situation and appreciate the recent help. But with each passing day teams around us go from strength to strength with backing from their men’s set-ups. The women’s game is growing, but we aren’t growing with it and the window to act is narrowing.”
— James Horner, Town Women coach, on X, in reply to Nagle
“Have faith. We are aware of their situation. Truly aware of the Women’s game and its importance.”
— Kevin Nagle, on X, in reply back to Horner
Coming up next
Yo-yo side Rotherham United managed to avoid the drop last season despite the departure of long-serving gaffer Paul Warne, but are now very firmly on course to return to League One this season.
The Millers are already 20 points adrift of safety having sat in the bottom three since September. They have won just once in 25 games since beating Coventry back on 25th October, losing all of their past nine games. Their past two games have ended in 5-0 away defeats to Coventry and Norwich.
Town really should be taking three points at the New York Stadium, then — but while Rotherham have the worst home record in the league, they do usually make things a lot harder for the opposition on home turf than they do on their travels.
Rotherham’s home goal difference is -7, compared with an away goal difference of -40, and they have conceded fewer home goals this season (24) than nine other sides, including second-placed Ipswich, and the same number as sixth-placed Southampton.
That means Town will probably need to be clinical to get the job done against a side looking to restore a modicum of pride.
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Yuta Nakayama has been ruled out for the rest of the season with the knee injury he suffered against Leeds United, with a scan revealing he sustained ligament damage when Crysencio Summerville fell on his leg after being fouled by Jonathan Hogg.
Bojan Radulovic and Tom Edwards both appeared from the bench against Cardiff in midweek but missed the West Brom game with back and ankle injuries respectively. Neither issue is thought to be major.
Radinio Balker returned from his quad issue on Sunday, however, coming off the bench for a run-out late on. He is hoped to be fit to start against Rotherham on Saturday.
Rhys Healey is close to completing his rehabilitation from the groin injury he suffered against Sheffield Wednesday last month. Rotherham may come too soon but the striker should be back after the international break if it does.
Josh Ruffels and Ollie Turton have both been announced as out for the season with groin and knee injuries respectively, while Kian Harratt is suspended for breaching FA gambling rules.
Predicted Huddersfield Town line-up to face Rotherham
4-4-2: Lee Nicholls; Brodie Spencer, Radinio Balker, Michal Helik, Jaheim Headley; Sorba Thomas, Jonathan Hogg, Jack Rudoni, Josh Koroma; Danny Ward, Delano Burgzorg.
Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Tom Lees, Matty Pearson, Ben Jackson, Brahima Diarra, David Kasumu, Alex Matos, Ben Wiles, Bojan Radulovic.
We Are Terriers podcast live show
This week’s episode of the We Are Terriers podcast will be recorded live at Magic Rock Huddersfield Taproom on Wednesday 13th March following the annual general meeting of the Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association.
The AGM will take place at 6:30pm, with the podcast recording pencilled in for an 8pm start.
Attendance is free for all HTSA members. You can register for the event here — and if you’re not an HTSA member already, you can become one for the next 12 months for just £1. Sign up here.
There is no requirement for you to attend the AGM to attend the podcast live show, but you will still need to be an HTSA member. If you do wish to vote in the AGM, however, you will need to have registered as a member by no later than 28th February.
Huddersfield Town Women
Town Women’s scheduled game against Liverpool Feds on Sunday afternoon was postponed.
They will now visit second-placed Nottingham Forest on Thursday evening hoping to pull off a surprise result that would boost their chances of avoiding relegation. The Terriers sit nine points adrift of safety, having played three games fewer than the side above them, Stourbridge.
Our schedule
We’re tremendously excited about Wednesday’s evening’s live podcast down at Magic Rock and are really looking forward to seeing you all there. We will be recording that podcast and will release it to our paying backers on Thursday.
Our £5-a-month backers will also get a written piece from me sometime this week — yet to decide what that will be but I imagine it will be available on Wednesday.
Usual matchday procedure at the weekend: player ratings on the final whistle from Rotherham for all readers, followed by five conclusions behind the paywall either Saturday night or sometime Sunday.
Final notes
You may have noticed that Town had a new look for their warm-ups on Sunday morning in the form of a limited edition kit designed by renowned illustrator Peter O’Toole — who you may know for designing the Jonathan Hogg and Thrice Champions murals the club have unveiled this season.
The striking design features a distinctive camouflage pattern that incorporates historic street and topography maps of Huddersfield and its surrounding areas. The shirt is available for purchase via the club shop, with £5 from every sale going towards Terriers Together community and inclusion projects.
O’Toole said: “As a lifelong Huddersfield resident and Town fan, I really enjoyed working on this project.
“As for the concept, the streets and communities on the shirt represent the lifeblood of the club, so I was thrilled to see players and fans alike wearing it with pride in aid of such an important campaign.”
Huddersfield Town’s head of retail, Luke Cowan, added: “The ‘Terriers Together’ match is a central part of the club’s calendar, and I’m proud that we can showcase and highlight the importance with this shirt.
“The limited-edition shirt really embodies our community and I’m sure it’s going to be a cult classic with our fans.”