Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

‘TAKE CAIR NOT TO BE ARROGANT’

- BY STEVE JUDGE

TOM CAIRNEY believes helping Fulham make an instant return to the Premier League will be his greatest achievemen­t yet.

But Scott Parker’s skipper admitted they must start showing teams more respect than they gave Huddersfie­ld if they are to make it back to the top flight.

Cairney (above, right) labelled his side “complacent” and “arrogant” after racing into a 3-0 lead. Bobby Reid danced past two players before curling in the opener, Cairney volleyed in the second and Aleksander Mitrovic marked his return from injury with his 19th goal of the season.

But the Terriers hit back with two goals in four minutes from Emile Smith Rowe and Steve Mounie before the break.

In the end it took a string of stunning saves from Marek Rodek to secure the win that moved Fulham to within three points of second-placed Leeds.

Cairney said: “We got a bit arrogant and stopped doing the things that put us into the lead.

“We thought the game had become too easy and in this league if you do that, you get caught. The lesson to learn? Respect everyone. Don’t take your foot off the pedal like we did and get complacent.”

Huddersfie­ld boss Danny Cowley is pleased with the impact of 19-year-old Arsenal loanee Smith Rowe and right-back Juninho Bacuna.

He said: “Emile is a top, top player but I want him to be really ruthless. Offensivel­y, Juninho put in a Premier League performanc­e.

“And he has a real desire to improve as a defender.”

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