Good reason for Wag to be cross
DAVID Wagner has lifted the lid on Huddersfield Town’s set-up and game plan for the Newcastle United match.
Town had 74 per cent possession in the match - the most by any losing team in the Premier League - but the boss admitted they weren’t clinical enough and didn’t create clear-cut chances.
It was a frustrating fourth successive defeat for the blue and white faithful and their team - Salomon Rondon grabbing the Newcastle winner on 55 minutes - and especially so because Town couldn’t add a finishing touch to some promising crosses.
Asked about one specific occasion, when the ball flew across the six-yard line, whether the fault was with the frontman Laurent Depoitre or provider Flo Hadergjonaj, Wagner said he couldn’t be specific without reviewing it fully.
“In general, our idea was, after we had seen and analysed Newcastle, to use the wide areas and to not make the mistake of trying to penetrate centrally,” said Wagner, who brought Hadergjonaj back into the starting line-up along with Juninho Bacuna and suspension-free Philip Billing.
“We wanted to use the wide areas, we wanted to cross, we wanted to cross early and we wanted to cross often.
“This is what the players did, the idea that we had, but, unfortunately, it looked like we were not in the right position in the box, but I can’t say if the crosses were too quick and too early or was the position of our striker not perfect.”
Wagner also explained the adaptations made during the game.
“We wanted to lock on and, if you want to lock on you have to use the formation which gives you the opportunity,” he explained.
“This means you have to see the formation the opponent chooses and this is why we defended in a 4-3-3 with Chris Lowe as one of the wide offensive players, and Pritchard as well.
“I think this worked very well, how we defended, how we were able to win possession and keep them away from our goal.
“The bravery the players showed was great and the effort as well.
“Unfortunately, in one moment, Newcastle countered well and we were not able to come back from this.
“We lost, but we absolutely have to believe we can turn this.”