Grayson Left Disappointed Again

Grayson unhappy with his teams performance

Huddersfield Town could only manage a 0-0 stalemate in their friendly against Oldham Athletic and that means they are still without a win in pre-season football. Simon Grayson stressed how important today's game was after losing midweek against Crewe and he was equally frustrated & disappointed after this draw;

"In the first half we seemed a little bit lifeless – there was no zest about us – and that didn’t change at all, so I’m disappointed with how the team performed. As a group you have to work hard to close people down and when you have the ball you have to enjoy it, but we were too slow and ponderous with the ball and we didn’t close down with a purpose either."

“As I’ve said before pre-season is a means to an end, but the players have got to start picking themselves up because we have a lot of improving to do before the season starts. It was quite lifeless; as a spectator I thought it was quite boring. There weren’t too many tackles or many people making forward runs and they are the things we want to be doing as a team; we want to be a team that’s full of energy and zest and today that wasn’t about us."

“I wouldn’t have been bothered if we’d lost 3-0 today if I had seen things that I liked about the team, but there weren’t too many units of the team to get excited about. There is still work to be done. Hopefully today is another kick up the backside for the players, because as I’ve just said in the dressing room there are no places in the team guaranteed for the start of the season – everyone has that opportunity and to work towards.  However, we have a good bunch that works hard and that’s what we’ll be doing next week. The players have to look at themselves and think what they need to do in the training ground and on match days to give themselves the opportunity to be in the team all season. We can advise them and work with them on the training pitch, but it also has to come from within."

“It was frustrating again today, but we know we’ll be right in two weeks’ time. I‘ve seen things like this many times before and we need to be using games like today like any competitive game to get the mind-set ready for the tough games coming up in the Championship. Pre-season games are there to remind you what you need to improve upon, both as a player and as a manager.”

Match Report: Oldham 0-0 Huddersfield

Huddersfield Town travelled across the border to face rivals Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in the clubs fifth pre-season friendly. With the terriers not picking up a victory in any of their previous friendlies they desperately needed to put on a decent performance as well as start to hit some good form before their clash against Preston in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Simon Grayson had expressed his disappointment in how his team had performed against Crewe Alexandra mid-week and it was clear from his squad selection that he wanted to win this friendly tie. Jordan Rhodes however was not in the starting XI but was on the bench for the terriers.
The game started off very scrappy with a fair few challenges being made by both teams and it had to be stopped just three minutes in when former Huddersfield striker Robbie Simpson made a very hard & unfair challenge on Clarke. Play resumed minutes later after the skipper had received on field treatment and it was the terriers who nearly opened their account when Danny Ward's cross was deflected goal wards but it was tipped over the bar by Cisak.
Huddersfield immediately threatened again through Kallum Higginbotham as he smashed a volley towards the top corner but an amazing save from Cisak denied the terriers from taking the lead. Ward once again nearly scored a freak goal as his long range effort was deflected just past the post as ten minutes came up on the clock.
Smithies received his first action of the game as he was made to save a drive from Oldham's Taylor which was well held by the Huddersfield keeper. The home side were starting to look dangerous after Huddersfield's early dominance and some great midfield build up play from Oldham allowed Grounds to fire in a cross into the box. Brilliant positioning from Peter Clarke allowed the skipper to clear the danger and give his team a few moments of reprieve before Oldham came back at them.
The game started to flare up once again as both sides sent in hard tackles midway through the first half but it was Oldham who got the next goalscoring opportunity. A well fought corner ball was drifted into the terriers box which Tarkowski latched on to with his head but he failed to hit the target and the game remained goalless. The game simmered down as half time beckoned and under the glorious sun it was Cisak who kept Oldham level once again. Cisak cleared the ball upfield for Oldham but it was picked up by Keith Southern who looked to punish the goalkeeper. He passed to Clayton who in turn played Danny Ward in but Cisak denied the winger once again with a fine save. The referee shortly after blew his whistle to signify half time and both teams jogged in still locked with each other.
Grayson employed three substitutes at half time as Rhodes, Scannell & Norwood came on to replace Spencer, Southern & Higginbotham. The start of the second half nearly brought with it the games first goal as Jack Hunt broke down the wing and curled a cross into the box. Rhodes was just inches away from heading home but he failed to make any contact on the ball and seemed to have been pushed from behind by an Oldham defender. Huddersfield continued to put the pressure on the home side through a Clayton free kick and multiple Danny Ward crosses but none of them could be found by a Town player in the box.
Oldham came the closest to taking the lead in the 57th minute and it was ex Huddersfield striker Robbie Simpson who nearly put them in front. M'Changama flicked in a beautiful cross from out wide and Simpson managed to get a glancing header on it that only just went wide of the upright. Smithies was well beaten in the goals as it looked to drop in but fortunately it went wide for a goal kick to the terriers. Smithies was tested just moments later from a long range drive at goal by Croft but he stepped up to the challenge and saved/held well.
Oldham started to mix things up a bit when they brought on 'trialist A + B' but it was the terriers who looked dangerous especially when Rhodes beat the off side trap. He latched on to a long clearence from Alex Smithies and tried to play Novak in but his strike partner wasn't quick enough to get on to the end of his cross. Two minutes later it was Lee Croft who was behind the terriers defence this time but he shot straight at Smithies and another chance went begging. The game ebbed and flowed between both teams but the best they could both do was create half chances that had no finishing efforts to trouble both sets of goalkeepers.
Huddersfield started a fast counter attack 13 minutes from time but Novak played the ball in too soon for the on rushing Rhodes who agonisingly couldn't keep the counter attack going. Rhodes had looked a level above the majority of players on the pitch and some good link up play involving himself saw a Ward cross cleared off the Oldham line by Grounds. Ward then got another chance to nick the game near the end as Scannell burst down the wing and passed to Woods who's cross was found by Ward but he lashed his effort wide of the goal.
The final whistle soon went after and a well fought friendly came to a stalement end. 0-0 the final score which means that the terriers are still without a pre-season victory under Simon Grayson.