HUDDERSFELLED

The Terriers bow out.. but they should be proud of their achievements and proud of making it into the big-time says Mooy

HUDDERSFIELD are gone but their time in the Premier League will not be forgotten.

Not only because of the unwanted history they created by equalling Derby’s record for the earliest relegation, but also because it was a miracle they got there in the first place and were able to give their fans a fairytale ride on the Premier League roller coaster.

The year they came up the Terriers were 40-1 outsiders for promotion and considered dark horses just to make the play-offs they eventually won.

In their first year in the Premier League they were relegation favourites and the only side odds-on to go down.

Nobody expected them to get there. And, when they did, nobody expected them to stay.

It was too much to expect them to defy the odds again this season and defeat against Crystal Palace confirmed what has looked inevitable for some time – Huddersfield’s relegation.

But once the disappointment subsides, what follows their top-flight exit is likely to be more about remembering what they achieved than any fingerpointing at where it all went wrong.

Midfielder Aaron Mooy said: “We did something that nobody expected us to do and we can all be very proud. The Championship year was incredible and staying up was really tough but we got there in the end and it was massive for the club.

“This season has been very hard. Two good years and one very hard one.”

In a strange quirk, one of Huddersfield’s best days, as well as one of their worst, came at Selhurst Park.

They began their Premier League stay with a brilliant 3-0 win at Palace but also saw their relegation fate sealed in south London (above).

Mooy said: “It’s weird. It was a Premier League debut for a lot of us and gave us good memories. Last season the good start really helped us and gave us a boost. Then, in the important games at home when we had to get a result, we generally got one.

“We kept picking up points. We’ve lost too many of those games this season. We never seem to get draws any more. It’s win one and then we lose.”

It was pretty much mission impossible to save Huddersfield when Jan Siewert took over in January. But he now has to deal with the relegation fallout, the inevitable departures and try to build a squad capable of promotion next season.

He said: “Huddersfield proved that it’s possible if you have a real togetherness and it makes me proud to be a part of it. The club is a good club and for me it’s really structured. That’s a good thing for us to start in the Championship and then we can have a look at what’s possible from there.”