Wagner: Best win in my time
DAVID Wagner described Huddersfield’s victory over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United as the best win of his time at the club.
Stuart Dallas had given Leeds the lead midway through the first half, but his goal was cancelled out just before the break as Mark Hudson equalised for The Terriers.
Then three quick-fire goals from Harry Bunn, Karim Matmour and Nahki Wells gave Huddersfield their fifth away win of the season.
“This is the best result of my time as Huddersfield coach as the nature of the game is so important,” said Wagner, who is in his first head coach role.
“I am delighted with that result, it is a massive three points.
“In the second half we were very clinical and the story of this game is something special.
“Although Nahki Wells missed the penalty, the way he assisted our third goal and then scored the fourth was high class – I think this will be one of the games he speaks about after his career.
“This is a very very young group we have and they have unbelievable space to develop – we have to allow them the chance to do this.
“On the one hand we must be humble, but on the other we must also be ambitious for the future.”
In a pulsating opening to the West Yorkshire derby, Leeds captain Sol Bamba tripped Joe Lolley on ten minutes to hand Huddersfield a great opportunity to take an early lead. But Wells’ attempt was well saved by Marco Silvestri who got down to his left to stop the shot and re-gather from the rebound.
Liam Bridcutt then produced good work on the right and put in a looping cross that was headed in by Dallas to give Leeds the lead with just over 20 minutes gone.
Huddersfield responded in the closing stages of the half as Jamie Paterson’s corner was headed in by captain Hudson to draw the sides level at the break.
Huddersfield began the brighter of the two sides in the second as the home side struggled to get a foot on the ball.
Their pressure earned its reward though as substitute Bunn put Huddersfield ahead, striking a low powerful volley past a helpless Silvestri.
Leeds’ defence then capitulated as they began to look drastically indifferent from the side that had notched three straight league wins prior to this match.
Substitute Matmour extended the Terriers’ lead four minutes later, tapping the ball home from a Wells cutback.
And Wells then turned from provider to scorer as he put his side out of sight with a powerful shot on the turn to get his 16th goal of the season.
Leeds coach Steve Evans admitted the result was tough to take as his side conceded four goals for the second time in five games.
“Huddersfield were better than us and it just looked as if they wanted it a little bit more than we did and much more than we did in certain areas,” he said. “We have to go back on the training ground and work on the art of defending – our failures are pretty evident to anyone who watches us.
“If you’re wanting to build something, it is days like today when you learn something about who can and who can’t play for Leeds United.”
“I’ll take the ultimate responsibility for that loss, for the changes that I made and for the performances of some,” he continued.
“I will also take responsibility for the changes I make in the summer – you will see a Steve Evans’ Leeds United – you haven’t seen that yet.”