Wagner offers no excuses

HUDDERSFIELD Town boss David Wagner refused to make excuses for his side’s heavy 4-0 SkyBet Championship defeat at Bristol City.

The German head coach was beset by a number of last minute injuries before the Ashton Gate trip with defenders Michael Hefele and Jon Gorenc Stankovic both falling ill.

And Town were made to make three enforced substitutions during the defeat with Elias Kachunga and Izzy Brown coming off with knocks and Jonathan Hogg needing on-field treatment for nearly 15 minutes due to a neck injury.

But Wagner, although acknowledging the setbacks, did not want to make them an excuse for failure.

“A night like this shouldn’t happen but it does but what is important is how we react and respond,” Wagner said.

“Maybe it started yesterday when Jon Gorenc Stankovic was ill - then this morning when Michael Hefele was sick.

“These problems were all out of our control and I think a lot of the game went against us as well.

“The situation with Jonathan Hogg was hard to take but I am not making excuses for the performance – I am not happy.

“We were not at our best and underperformed in every position while Bristol City were very strong.”

After a hectic period witnessed Town play eight games in 28 days last month, next week’s international break cannot come soon enough for Wagner’s men to recharge their batteries before facing Burton Albion at home on April 1.

“We now need to use the international break to refresh and respond to this result,”

“We are in a very good position with nine games to go and we have been through too much together as a group for me to question my players on one night and one result.” HUDDERSFIELD Town have confirmed midfielder Jonathan Hogg suffered a fracture in his neck when he was injured in the defeat at Bristol City.

But while the 28-year-old kingpin is expected to miss the rest of the season and Town’s push for promotion under David Wagner, the great news for Huddersfield supporters is that Hogg is in no immediate danger and will be back to playing when his rehabilitation is complete.

Hogg was carried off on a stretcher in the early stages of the 4-0 loss at Ashton Gate and spent Friday night in Bristol Royal Infirmary for checks and scans.

He was released on Saturday afternoon and returned to Huddersfield.

Town say the player, who was hurt in a freak collision with teammate Mark Hudson, was conscious throughout his treatment and completely aware of his situation.

A statement on the club website, htafc.com, said: “Jonathan was removed from the field of play in the eighth minute on Friday evening due to concerns of a potential neck injury after an accidental collision with teammate Mark Hudson.

“Jonathan was subsequently referred onwards to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he underwent further investigations on Friday evening and early on Saturday morning.

“The results have detailed a fracture within his cervical spine