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Duncan’s just two good
CHRIS WILDER refused to rule out a promotion push after Duncan Watmore’s deadly firsthalf double got his Middlesbrough reign up and running.
Wilder 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 make it third time lucky for ex-Sheffield United boss Wilder.
The result left Boro just six points outside the play-off places and 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.
But Watmore destroyed them with two goals in seven first-half minutes.
In the 16th minute, Boro skipper Jonny Howson found Isaiah Jones advancing at pace on the right flank, and he cut the ball back for Watmore to rifle home a right-foot shot.
Seven minutes later, Watmore was at it again, this time latching on to Matt Crooks’ pass and lifting the ball cleverly over Terriers goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Wilder said: “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 club and it’s not just the results – the personalities, and the environment aren’t always together. But they are definitely a together group.
“That makes it a lot easier for us, and Duncan has been excellent for us.”
Luke Daniels’ last-minute
HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls 6, Pearson 6 (Turton 37, 6), Lees 6, Sarr 6, Thomas 6, High 6, O’Brien 7, Toffolo 5 (Koroma 73, 6), Sinani 5, Ward 6, Holmes 5 (Campbell 60, 6).
Subs not used: Schofield, Ruffels, Colwill, Russell.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Daniels 6, Dijksteel 6, Bamba 7, McNair, 6, Jones 7 (Ikpeazu 90), Crooks 6, Howson 7, Tavernier 6, Bola 6, Sporar 7, Watmore 8 (Hernandez 77)
Subs not used: Stojanovic, Taylor, Olusanya, Lea Siliki, Coburn
MAN OF THE MATCH: Duncan Watmore. Bagged a delightful first-half double and ran Huddersfield’s backline ragged. own-goal – when Lewis O’Brien’s shot deflected in off him – was little consolation for Town, 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.”