Two positive in latest set of virus tests
THERE were two positive results in the latest round of COVID-19 testing in the Championship.
Nine people from six clubs tested positive during the last round, with Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston confirming one positive test each.
More than 4,000 tests on Championship players and staff have been carried out since 21 May, with 24 individuals testing positive.
The latest statement from the EFL said: “Following the latest round of COVID-19 testing, the EFL can confirm that 1,179 players and club staff from the 24 Championship clubs were tested over the course of Wednesday 3 June, Thursday 4 June, Friday 5
June and Saturday 6 June, with two individuals, testing positive from two clubs.
“Those players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate in line with the guidelines provided by the EFL and only those who have tested negative will be permitted to enter training ground facilities.
“Following the first round of COVID-19 testing in League One, the EFL can confirm that 135 players and club staff were tested from four League One clubs over the course of Wednesday 3 June, Thursday 4 June, Friday 5 June and Saturday 6 June with zero individuals testing positive.
“Following the latest round of COVID-19 testing, the EFL can confirm that 132 players and club staff were tested from four League Two clubs with one individual testing positive.”
DANNY Cowley’s arrival as Huddersfield Town’s new manager early in the season has led to a turnaround which could yet see them stay in the Championship.
Prior to his move from Lincoln City in September, the Terriers had picked up just one point from their opening six league games with Jan
Siewert departing before August had even ended.
A change needed to be made and Cowley, the man behind The Imps’ rise to League One, was the manager tasked with the job.
It did not take long for him to change Town’s fortunes.
A tough start to life with the Terriers with back-to-back defeats for Cowley was soon rectified as they went on a seven-match unbeaten run between the end of September and start of November, picking up 15 points in the process.
When the 2019-20 season resumes on June 20, Town head into the Championship restart 18th, just three points clear of the relegation zone. Without Cowley’s arrival, it could have been a very different story.
Whilst safety is not guaranteed, it is likely the Terriers will stay up if they maintain their postSiewert form.
In the 2015-16 season, 15 points from Chris Powell’s first 15 Championship games of the season led to his exit from the John Smith’s Stadium and on the same day as Powell was axed, he was succeeded by Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant manager, David Wagner.
The rest of that campaign saw an upturn in performances. Town averaged 1.2 points per game in their 30 league matches under Wagner’s guidance and whilst a 19th-place finish in the Championship didn’t steal the headlines, it set the tone for what would prove to be one of the most surprising promotions to the Premier League the following season.
Wagner’s first season, in which he did not oversee the full campaign, has shown plenty of similarities to Cowley’s first nine months in West Yorkshire, although the current Town boss has actually performed better than Wagner did during his first two thirds of a season.
In Cowley’s opening 31 league games in charge, he has returned 41 points, averaging 1.32 points per game.
Similarly to Wagner, Cowley’s
Next season Cowley could make a real go of it in the Championship
with Town