Cowley’s faced with another big call at Derby
DANNY Cowley has revealed why Steve Mounie was substituted in the Cardiff City match.
The big Benin frontman - who had netted six goals in the previous nine games - was replaced by Fraizer Campbell with only 58 minutes gone and with Town trailing 2-0.
It’s a situation which leaves manager Cowley with a decision to make for the trip to Derby County and how Town might play if leading scorer Karlan Grant misses a third match on the trot because of a side strain suffered in training.
Asked about the Mounie substitution, the manager said: “It’s never easy being a No.9, particularly when you are trying to play three games in a week and you are always trying to manage that load. I’ve been a football supporter and I’ve had that thought of moaning at the manager when he makes subs, and sometimes you don’t always know all the ins and outs of everything - and the background to some of the decisions.
“We wanted a bit more penetration on the pitch, and Fraizer does give us that penetration, which I think is really important. It’s not easy for the No.9 when you’ve got two big centre halves climbing all over you - to go back-toback in games and play Saturday and then midweek.”
Cowley replaced hamstring-injury victim Jonathan Hogg at the same time as Mounie, sending on Andy King, while Emile Smith Rowe was taken off 15 minutes from time to allow Chris Willock a run. Cowley added: “As a manager you know you are going to have to bear the criticism of making sensible decisions - but that’s part of the job and we accept it.”