Grayson Can't Hide Terriers Flaws

Grayson look on as Calum Woods re-emerges from the snow

Simon Grayson has given his assessment on his sides 4-0 defeat away at Watford which has taken the terriers to twelve games without a win in the Championship. Grayson could only watch as his side went one nil down just before half time through a dubious penalty decision but were totally outclassed in the second half as they fell to pieces. A lack of desire, heart and determination was evident throughout the team as they suffered another heavy defeat without netting once. 

Dixon's Reaction To Watford Game

Paul Dixon has spoken to the official Huddersfield Town website after a humiliating 4-0 defeat away at Watford. The terriers started the game off the better side but a penalty to Watford just on the stroke of half time was a massive blow to the confidence of Huddersfield and they went on to concede another three goals in the second half without reply;

"It was never a penalty. We did alright first half, but that decision went against us and ultimately it’s affected us. We went out in the second-half, didn’t perform well enough and lost another three goals. You can try and put days like this behind you, but you’ve got to learn from them. We really need to learn from this fast, because it’s happened a couple of times before this season before today; Millwall and Leicester being the outstanding ones."

"I don’t know what it is, but when we lose goals it seems to affect us. We need to stop letting goals affect us and work hard to get back into games when we concede first."

The heavy defeat today has taken Huddersfield Town's win less Championship league game streak to 12 and things dont look like they are going to get any better soon;

"First and foremost we have to work hard. That is the only way you can get out of situations like this. Hopefully the rest will come if we work hard."

Paul Dixon and the rest of the team will take a much needed break from Championship football as they take on Leicester in the 4th round of the FA Cup next Saturday and its a break which the defender is thankful to have;

"It’s always nice to play in the FA Cup. Obviously for me before this season I have played in the Scottish cups, but it’s great. It takes us away from the League for a week but if we can get a win next week, I hope that will kick-start our League season again."

Grayson; 'We Will Have To Work Very Hard'

Simon Grayson is backing his team to upset the bookies odds and come away from Watford with a much needed win today when the terriers take on Gianfranco Zola's men. The game will go ahead as planned after a decision was made at 9am this morning which took not only the pitch state into consideration but also the surrounding areas.

Grayson spoke to the official website yesterday afternoon and had this to say;

"They have been the surprise package so far this season. They have had an influx of foreign players who have helped them achieve some very good victories. They are a dynamic team who have excellent movement; it is going to be a tough game. Watford have been very good away from home, but not as good at home. If we can replicate some of our away performances from this season then I believe we have a very good chance." 

"Gianfranco has done a fantastic job since last summer and his team has the ability to get a result when they need one to stay in the top six. To get a win at Middlesbrough last week was a great result for them and they have got players who are very comfortable on the ball." 

"We will try and win the game by playing through and from the shape of our team. We will have to work very hard to stop them playing and when we have the ball we will have to be effective. We have got players in our squad who are capable of hurting the opposition. The likes of Beckford, Vaughan and Scannell, who looks like he is back to best with his recent performances, have the ability to cause teams problems."

Huddersfield Town went to 11 games without a win in the Championship last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City but Grayson strongly believes his team are getting back to the way they were at the beginning of the season;

"To get an equaliser so late on gave everyone a lift and I felt that we deserved the goal. Jack Butland was the busiest 'keeper in the game and we stuck at our task; any point gained in the npower Championship is a valuable one. You can't repair confidence overnight, it is a gradual process.  We are progressing in the right manner, but we want to win a game to give everyone a massive boost. We will go to Watford on the weekend in a good frame of mind looking to cause an upset."

Neil Danns made his debut last weekend for the terriers after being brought in on loan from Leicester City and the midfielder impressed many Town fans with his work rate;

"When I signed Neil I said that he was a versatile player and he proved that against Birmingham by starting on the right and then moving in to the middle. He had only been at the football club a couple of days and I am confident that there is plenty more to come from him."

Grayson was also keen to state that he believes Oliver Norwood is slowly returning back to his normal form after he started in the middle against Birmingham City last Saturday;

"Oliver was flying when the team were playing well at the start of the season; he was the one making us tick. At this moment in time his confidence has dwindled, like one or two of the players, but I thought at Charlton and against Birmingham he showed glimpses of what he is capable of doing. All the players need to work hard to reach the levels that they were achieving at the start of the season."

Adam Hammill was also a major talking point in Grayson's interview yesterday and the terriers boss summed up the situation regarding the Wolves winger finished his loan with Town on Monday;

"I have spoken with Dean Saunders and he is currently taking stock of the situation. We will speak again after the weekend and see what he wants to do, that isn't to say that we have made a decision yet. We need to take stock of our own situation and work out where we need to strengthen."

Transfer speculation has also been following Jack Hunt around this month and its alleged that Swansea have made a bid of £3m for the young right back. However, Grayson dismissed these claims as simply paper talk;

"The transfer window brings about speculation left, right and centre for good players. We aren't a selling football club and we don't encourage bids from other clubs. Regarding Jack Hunt it is all speculation just like it could be with any player. We will get on with our business and comment on transfers in private."
Simon Grayson finished off his interview in a traditional way by updating the fans on the squads injuries ahead of today's game against Watford;

"Danny Ward has trained this week so we will see where he is; Joel Lynch is still unavailable though. Apart from those two everybody else is fit and available for selection, which is good. Oscar Gobern is making good progress and it is good that we are getting players back to full fitness."

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Hunt Looking Ahead To Watford

Jack Hunt

Jack Hunt strongly believes that Huddersfield Town can take a lot from their last two games against Charlton and Birmingham City where they recorded a 1-0 victory and a 1-1 draw. Hunt spoke to the official Huddersfield Town website yesterday as the terriers look ahead to their weekend clash against Watford who are currently sitting in the play-off places of the Championship.

"The manager, Gianfranco Zola, has come in and done really well. I remember watching them on TV against Brighton and being really impressed."

Hunt knows that picking up a victory, after the terriers recent run of form has seen them go 11 league games without one, will be very difficult especially against a side who are pushing for promotion but he insisted that Adam Hammill's late equaliser has given the whole team some hope going into the weekend; 

"It was good to show the character we did and we can take it into this weekend as a positive. You do need something to kick off a good run and hopefully the last minute equaliser against Birmingham was that."

Hunt will more than likely start in the right back position for Huddersfield Town on Saturday if the game is to go ahead.

Grayson Expects His Team To Bounce Back

Simon Grayson watched his team lose a goal advantage over Watford at The John Smiths Stadium yesterday and although admitting that his team were below par he remained calm and professional in his post match interview;

"It was always going to be a difficult game and we tried to warn everyone beforehand. We came into the game as favourites and you have to be right at, but today we were below par. The players did ok, but didn't do enough to win the game. We didn't get close enough to them when they had the ball and when we had it we didn't pass it well enough. That is what the Championship is all about, if you aren't at it, you will get punished."

"I thought at 2-2 we could have hung in there or nicked a winner, but it didn't work out like that. I am disappointed but I would have settled for where we are after eight games, at the start of the season."

A dubious penalty decision lead to the game winning goal for Watford as Ward was judged to have fouled Foresteri in the area by the linesman and Grayson gave his own thoughts on the penalty;

"I have seen the penalty again and Danny has made a tackle and not won the ball and the lad has gone over his leg. If the incident had been in the other box I would have been screaming for a penalty. I think it was the correct decision and sadly for us it cost us an opportunity to win the game. It was a tough match. They overloaded us in midfield and we could never get a foothold in the game, we didn't have that zip about us. We will draw from the positives and the negatives and move on to Tuesday night."

Jermaine Beckford made his debut for the terriers in front of the Town faithful and Grayson was happy to see him getting involved in the game even though he didn't look fully fit;

"I thought he did ok. He looked a little ring-rusty though. He had been banished to the under-21s at Leicester before moving, so he was lacking a little bit fitness wise. He will get better game by game and when the ball is around the 18 yard box he will cause problems. He will score us goals during the three months that he is here, there is no question of that."

Alan Lee scored Towns second goal yesterday after replacing Beckford for the final twenty minutes and Grayson played tribute to the frontman;

"We know what Alan will bring to the team. He has plenty of enthusiasm and will work defenders hard and today he has produced a fantastic finish to get us back into the game. The whole place was lifted by his goal, but sadly that soon disappeared."

Beckford will unfortunately be unable to play against Leicester City on Tuesday so Vaughan is expected to come back into the starting XI if he can recover from his slight injury;

"We will assess James over the next 48 hours and see how fit he is. We want him to be involved because he has been immense since he joined us. If playing him on Tuesday will risk him being out for longer, than we won't do it."

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