Grayson Disappointed After Being Dumped Out Of The Capital One Cup

Huddersfield Town suffered another defeat yesterday as they crashed out of the Capital One Cup to an impressive Preston North End side. The game finished 2-0 after strikes in the first half from Wroe & King and the terriers never really threatened their opponents goal all game. Grayson expressed his frustration after the match;

"I am very disappointed. It was our first competitive game of the season and we are now out of the Capital One Cup – we picked a team that we felt could win. I am disappointed with a few individual performances tonight and the team as a collective. We will learn from every game and some of the new lads are still learning our way of football, but that is no excuse." 

"We warned the players what to expect; Preston get in your faces, make it difficult for you, leave their feet in and work you hard and we couldn't handle it. Once you give a team a two goal start it is very difficult to recover – it doesn't matter who you are playing. In the second-half we passed the ball with a purpose, but lacked enough determination to stop the opposition. It is frustrating that the players haven't put a marker down for the Cardiff game, but it will be more disappointing for them when they are not selected in the team on Friday. Everybody had an opportunity to stake a place in the Cardiff team tonight, but there weren't enough good performances."

"If we play like tonight in the Championship we won't do well. We are going to be playing against better players and we have to stand up and be counted. I have got a group of players who are exciting but they need to learn from each game – win, lose or draw."

Jimmy Spencer was given his first competitive start for Huddersfield and it was the 20 year old which impressed Grayson the most from last nights defeat. Spencer was later replaced by Alan Lee but the striker was immediately praised by the manager for his efforts;

"For a young boy I thought Jimmy lead the line superbly well on his own. We decided to give him an opportunity tonight and he didn't do himself any harm – his performance was one of the bright notes from today."

Ward was replaced by Arfield at half-time as the attacking winger suffered a slight knock on the ankle. Grayson is unsure if Ward will feature against Cardiff on Friday until the injury is looked at more closely and given time to heal;

"Danny took a knock but we were looking to make tactical changes at half-time to match them up. We will assess him over the next few days and see how he is ahead of Cardiff."

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Match Report: Preston North End 2-0 Huddersfield Town

The terriers traveled to Deepdale to play League One outfit Preston North End in the first round of the Capital One Cup and also the first competitive match for both teams. Huddersfield Town were forced to put out a somewhat weakened team due to numerous international call-ups including their main goalscorer Jordan Rhodes which gave way to Jimmy Spencer to make his first ever competitive appearance for the terriers. Grayson lined his team up with a 4-3-3 formation which included full debutants Clayton, Gerrard, Dixon & Keith Southern.

Preston started the better side and immediately threatened the visitors goal through Mousinho who tested Smithies with a low driven shot which the keeper could only push away. The rebound was pounced upon by King but he smashed his effort wide to the distress of the home fans. The home side forced a corner just five minutes later after a great cross from Laird has to be flicked wide by the Huddersfield skipper, Peter Clarke. The corner was immediately cleared by the terriers but Preston were looking very threatening as Huddersfield struggled to string together their passes.

It took nine minutes before Huddersfield created their first half chance of the game as Spencer flicked on a cross which saw Novak fire tamely at Stuckman in the Preston North End goal. Just a minute later the ever impressive Spencer tried to give the terriers the lead but Stuckman pushed his shot away before Gobern curled the rebound over from the edge of the area. Huddersfield continued to create chances and Clayton played a great ball to Novak who headed down into the path of Spencer but the striker couldn't make the goalkeeper work as he fired over the bar.

The game started to settle down and in the 24th minute good link up play by Spencer, Ward & Clayton gave Dixon a chance but he followed Spencers earlier effort and sent his shot over the bar to the delight of the home fans. Preston opened the scoring just before the half hour mark through Jack King. Alex Smithies failed to claim the ball in the area and his mistake led to a looping header from King nestling into the corner of the net to give the home side a well deserved lead.

Huddersfield tried to get back into the game but Novak couldnt keep an attack flowing after a poor touch from Lee Novak gave possession back to Preston. Things got worse for the visitors just five minutes from time as Preston doubled their lead through Wroe who only had to pass it into the net after a neat cross from Beardsley from the wing. Huddersfield needed half time to come quickly but just before the referee blew for the break they had a chance to bring one back. Clayton broke on the counter attack and pushed forward with the ball but he over hit his pass which would have seen Novak through on goal. Half time; Preston 2-0 Huddersfield.

Huddersfield started the second half brightly after switching to a more basic 4-4-2 formation with Arfield replacing Danny Ward at half time. Spencer skipped past his maker just minutes into the second forty-five before finding Southern with his cross but the midfield veteran can only fire over the bar. Preston then immediately started to press the terriers back into their own half as King linked well with Beardsley before the latter fired at goal to test Smithies who dealt with it comfortably.

Monakana wasn't as dangerous as what he was in the first half but he rifled in a shot at goal which skidded across the surface before just going past the upright of Smithies goal. Huddersfield went straight up the other end and created a chance of their own as they searched to get themselves back into the game. Arfield linked up well with Dixon before the left back crosses low but Stuckmann put an end to the attack by collecting well. They once again linked up well ten minutes before Dixon crossed but it was agonizingly taken away from Novak who was just inches away from converting it into the back of the net.

Gobern tamely fired at Stuckmann just minutes later after being given space due to clever play from Spencer, Arfield & Novak. The home side was under a bit of pressure now from Huddersfield but the visitors just couldn't provide the much needed final pass due to a solid Preston defence denying them any sort of real chance. Just 8 minutes from time David Amoo easily left both Dixon & Arfield for dead before drilling a low cross across the face of goal which was amazingly missed by various Preston players.

As time started to slowly tick away Huddersfield created their best chance of the game after a long ball was nodded down by Alan Lee into the path of Lee Novak who fired a shot which was cruelly deflected wide of the goal for a corner. The referee blew for full time minutes later as the terriers disappointingly crashed out in the first round of the Capital One Cup after a very poor performance.

Full time; Preston North End 2-0 Huddersfield Town

McCombe Mutually Terminates Contract With Club

Jamie McCombe leaves Huddersfield Town after having his contract mutually terminated by the club. McCombe has only appeared the five times under current manager Simon Grayson and leaves the terriers in search of regular first team football at another club. We wih him all the best in the future wherever he ends up  and Grayson explained the reasons as to why Jamie has mutually ended his contract;

"Much like Antony Kay, Jamie is a senior player and he needs first team football at his age. It is only fair to allow players to go in search of first team football when you can’t offer it to them and his departure also helps our wage bill.

Jamie McCombe was brought to the club by previous manager Lee Clark and has since put in 68 appearances which has seen him score nine goals in all competitions. Not a bad goal scoring record but the tall central defender has never been fighting for a starting XI spot since going out on loan to Preston North End last season.

Skipper Excited With Championship Test

Peter Clarke has expressed how much of a test this upcoming season is going to be for Huddersfield Town but sounded excited to be going into the first match against Cradiff with a host of new signings & the captains armband to his name. Before they travel to the Welsh club a trip to Deepdale to play against Preston North End in the first round of the Capital One Club will see Grayson & his team tested with a weakened squad due to international call ups;

"I think the whole experience of promotion was still surreal up until the fixtures for the Championship came out last month. I think then the realisation set in that we are a Championship club and will be playing against some of the biggest clubs in English football, in some fantastic venues. As with any team that gets promoted into a new league the first objective is to secure your place in it for the following season, but we don’t want to be battling down at the wrong end of the league - we want to be surprising a few people and giving a good account of ourselves."

"The Manager is very shrewd and he has made several acquisitions over the summer. The lads that have come in have fitted in great and through playing games and from training day, in, day out you begin to build an understanding and I think that is beginning to happen, which is a good sign."

Clarke has already played alongside two of the new signings made by the manager, Anthony Gerrard & Keith Southern, and the skipper is delighted to have been reunited with them once again;

"I played with them both before in my career – Keith far more than Anthony. I can certainly say on behalf of the lads that they are wholehearted players who will give you everything that have got out on the field. Keith has a terrific engine and gets around the pitch well; he breaks things up and gives it nice and simple – he can also weigh in with his fair share of goals. Anthony is a tough lad, a no-nonsense type of defender. He is very competitive and he can play a bit from the back."

The skipper stated that The Championship is going to be very tough and having four games in just the opening two weeks is a real challenge for the terriers;

"As in any league, or competition, there is a never any easy game. You have to earn the right to win football matches and that will be no different this season. The start is going to be very tough; we are away twice in the first week and we will do our best to give good accounts of ourselves. Pre-season is always tough and the workload is always long and hard, but it is about getting ready and match fit. When you get to the back-end of pre-season all you want to do is start playing competitive football. It is the first time in my career where the League Cup starts before the season proper, so it is a little bit odd, but it makes no difference and it is a game that we want to do well in."

Manager Speaks Out Before Cup Tie Against Preston

Huddersfield Town will travel to Preston North End in their first round match in the newly named Capital One Cup. The terriers are due to be without a few players due to international call-ups & Grayson believes that its the chance for others to earn their place in the squad;

"We have four players missing the game due to international commitments, which allows four other players to come in and make an impression. It is frustrating missing four players from your first team for the first competitive game of the season, but it is the same case for every manager in the Championship. The call-ups are good accolades for the players in question and for the football club, but they aren't ideal." 

"As I said it gives other players an opportunity to put in a good performance against Preston and stake a claim for a place against Cardiff. If you are in possession of a shirt against Cardiff then it is yours to lose for the rest of the season."

Grayson has already got one eye on the Cardiff game which is also the opening game of The Championship but stated he would like to see his team progress into the second round tie;

"The Preston match is a competitive fixture and we want to win every competitive game that we play in. A win would set us off on the right foot and we would enter the Cardiff game in good spirits. If you get through to the second round the 'big boys' enter into the competition and you could find yourself with a nice glamour tie. It is about getting the balance right between picking a team that is capable of winning and making sure that players are still fresh for Cardiff on the Friday" 

"We have got a lot of reports for all the teams that we are facing within the first month, but for each team they vary because they are experimenting with different formations and players. We have played a number of different formations during pre-season and I won't be letting on what we are playing against Preston until the night!"

Antony Gerrard is set to make his debut for Huddersfield in the tie against Preston North End and Grayson reiterated how happy he was to have landed the experienced defender;

"I am delighted that we landed Anthony; I had the backing of the Chairman again to go and spend some money on a player. We need to create competition for places throughout the squad and although we have a good bunch at the moment, that isn't to say that we aren't still looking to improve. We are talking to a few people regarding certain areas of the squad, but if we were to start the season now then I would be very satisfied – we have done a lot of work in recruiting new players already."

Grayson also notified all the fans on the fitness of the current squad after finishing the pre-season friendlies against Barcelona B at home on Wednesday;

"We had a few tired bodies the morning after the Barcelona B game, which was expected as we spent large parts of the game chasing the ball. It will have done our fitness levels a lot of good and also our organisation ahead of the new season. Going into the Preston game we have a fully fit squad."