Watmore’s double makes it third time a charm for Wilder
CHRIS WILDER refused to rule out a promotion push after Duncan Watmore’s deadly first-half double got his Middlesbrough reign up and running.
The Boro boss had collected just one point from his first two games after replacing Neil Warnock earlier this month.
But an outstanding first-half display saw Watmore produce two fine finishes to earn victory for former Sheffield United boss Wilder at the third attempt.
The result left Middlesbrough in 12th place – just six points outside the play-off places.
Wilder said: “The Championship is ridiculous and, after two or three wins, everyone is talking about you going up.
“That’s the hype of the division but then all of a sudden after two or three losses you’re sliding down the division and staring relegation in the face.
“We have to be consistent in our approach and we won’t get carried away over one win.
“But we can use it as encouragement because we played well against a good side and got a big result.”
Huddersfield had not lost at home since September and have emerged as surprise play-off contenders this season.
But Watmore destroyed them with two goals in eight first-half minutes, much to the delight of the raucous travelling support.
In the 16th minute, Boro skipper Jonny Howson found Isaiah Jones advancing at pace down the right flank.
And he cut the ball back for Watmore to rifle home right-footed.
Seven minutes later Watmore was at it again. This time he latched on to Matt Crooks’ pass and lifted the ball cleverly over Terriers goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Wilder said of his two-goal hero: “Duncan’s a good kid, as they all are.
“The attitude of the group is spot on and they are together.
“Sometimes you go into a football club and it’s not just the results, it’s the personalities, and the environment isn’t always together.
“But they are definitely a together group which makes it a lot easier for us, and Duncan has been excellent for us.”
Luke Daniels’ last-minute own-goal – when Lewis O’Brien’s shot deflected in off him – was little consolation for Huddersfield, who were booed off at the break in front of a bumper crowd.
Boss Carlos Corberan said: “In the first half we didn’t perform well and the attack and the defence were really poor.
“In the second half it was different but they were winning 2-0 and it was another type of game.
“They found a solution before we arrived.”
HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls 6, Pearson
6 (Turton (37th) 6), Lees 6, Sarr 6, Thomas 6, High 6, O’Brien 7, Toffolo
5 (Koroma (73rd) 6),Sinani 5, Ward 6, Holmes 5 (Campbell (60th) 6)
MIDDLESBROUGH: Daniels 6, Dijksteel
6, Bamba 7,McNair, 6, Jones 7 (Ikpeazu (90th), Crooks 6, Howson 7, Tavernier 6, Bola 6, Sporar 7, Watmore
8 (Hernandez (77th)
STAR MAN: Duncan Watmore
REF: T Bramall