Terriers ready to go forward on front foot

IN the first four months of the Cowleys’ reign, Town were a much better prospect on the road than at home, and that playing against top-half opposition played to their strengths much more than relegation dogfights.

A look at the home and away league tables back that up. Since the Cowleys arrived, Town have been the 13th-best away side in the division, racking up 14 points from their 12 games. There are seven sides who have managed ten points or fewer in that time.

But at home they have scarcely been better, accumulating 17 points from 12 games, the worst Championship sides since September (Luton, Birmingham and Barnsley) are just three points behind.

That’s easily explained. The blunt truth is that up until now Town’s only strength on the ball has been in their counter-attacking play, and in games where they have been asked to go on the front foot and make things happen – the default state of affairs when playing at home – they have been largely toothless.

The 3-0 win against Hull in October remains the only time Town have scored more than twice at home this season. They have scored two on three occasions, just one on five occasions, and none at all on a further five.

But there have been positive signs that trend could be about to change. Emile Smith Rowe has been a revelation on that front, but Trevoh Chalobah also looks much more at home in the new system, Harry Toffolo looks like an excellent outlet down the left, Karlan Grant is playing much better than he was at the start of last month, and deadline day signing Chris Willock should on paper bring more creativity to the right wing than Elias Kachunga is able to offer.

It’s only been a quiet mumble of discontent given the position Town were in at the start of the season, but some fans had understandably started to get a tad frustrated by the Cowleys’ approach.

By his own account that has been out of necessity rather than preference, and at Craven Cottage his side showed signs that they are willing to back that up through action on the pitch. Town dominated the second half and deserved to get the equaliser that never came, Fulham didn’t manage a single shot on target after their third goal while Town managed a further six after their second.

Cottagers keeper Marek Rodak pulled off a good save to deny a thunderous Grant volley in the 50th minute, and only a last-ditch Cyrus Christie block denied substitute Fraizer Campbell a late leveller.

Notably, Town seemed to have been instructed to keep the ball and play it on the floor wherever possible after the break – they did so in front of their own penalty box, even when it would perhaps have been more sensible to lump it clear.

That indicates Cowley feels his side are now ready to start taking the game to the opposition on their own terms, rather than playing rope-a-dope and hoping to nick something on the counter.