Hef the Terriers’ playboy
HUDDERSFIELD boss David Wagner hailed his players for overcoming an FA Cup culture shock.
A debut goal from German striker Collin Quaner set the Terriers on their way before a second-half penalty from Izzy Brown and two late strikes from Michael Hefele sealed the visitors’ win.
Wagner admitted he had to throw his usual game-plan out of the window to counter their physical League One opponents in what he called “a proper British football match”.
Wagner said: “This was nothing to do with what we usually do – it was not the type of football match and style that I like, but to be fair I loved the result.
“We said we had to be open to different circumstances, and if you want to have an FA Cup run you have to overcome these kinds of circumstances, so credit to them for that.
“We completely changed the idea of our game, so we didn’t play as we normally do, but we had the right FA Cup attitude to work and fight and overcome those big hurdles.”
Wagner could hardly have been happier with 6ft 3in striker Quaner, signed from Union Berlin last week, who made an immediate impression when he turned home a Brown cross.
Quaner impressed throughout and completed a first performance full of promise when he laid off to Hefele to slide home the Terriers’ fourth and final effort five minutes from time.
Wagner added: “I think it was a fantastic performance for his first game in difficult circumstances.”
Rochdale boss Keith Hill issued a stark warning to his players that he will make changes if their hard-earned play-off hopes in League One are jeopardised.
Hill said: “There comes a time when you have to replace those players.
“We’ve come to a point where we’re in a great position with respect to what we’ve achieved this season and I don’t want us just to fade away.
“We can’t afford to continue making mistakes – the only goal of theirs I could really applaud was the fourth because the other three were down to mistakes.” Possession Shots On Target Shots Off Target Blocked Shots Corners Fouls Conceded Offsides Yellow Cards Red Cards 52% 48% 1 5 2 3 1 1 2 2 17 12 1 9 1 1 0 0