THE VERDICT: TOWN 0 WIGAN 2 Cowley says there’s ‘no excuses’ for poor display

TOWN RATED

DANNY Cowley says there are ‘no excuses’ for Huddersfield Town’s performance in the 2-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic which puts them deep in the relegation battle.

Town are now just one point above the drop zone and Cowley refused to blame an empty stadium for the lack of intensity which surrounded the display.

“We were really short of the levels we have got to in recent weeks in the preparation games we’ve had and also in training,” said the boss, whose side fell to goal from Jamal Lowe and former Town player Anthony Pilkington.

“The lads played really well at Boro last week and had a really good week in training, the best since we’ve been here, and then we’ve played really poorly today, so it’s a huge disappointment.

“There are no excuses. We

Marshall, Byrne, Kipre, Fox (Pearce 86), Robinson (Naismith 86), Pilkington (Jacobs 61), Williams, Morsy, Moore (Garner 86), Dowell (Evans 75), Lowe. NOT USED: MacLeod, Jones, Mlakar, Gelhardt.

have played three games in these circumstances with no fans present. We played well in those preparation games and played well this week in training.

“We knew what today was going to be, we practised it and rehearsed it and we just underperformed. I don’t want to use any excuses.

“Individually and collectively we all have to take responsibility.”

The rustiness from both sides was evident as sloppy first touches and misplaced passes punctuated the first quarter of an hour, but Town striker Karlan Grant was perhaps unfortunate to be flagged offside after threatening to go clean through.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium throughout and Pilkington’s tame shot was the first on target just before the drinks break but the Wigan winger would have a hand in a slightly fortuitous 26th-minute opener.

Pilkington released Kieffer Moore, whose low right-wing cross took an unintended deflection off Harry Toffolo and led to

Lowe instinctively chesting into the net before immediately taking a knee as he celebrated with team-mates.

Town responded well to going behind at half-time as Emile Smith Rowe dragged wide while only a stunning save from David Marshall kept Wigan ahead at the interval.

Terriers skipper Christopher Schindler may have got the faintest of final touches to Juninho Bacuna’s free-kick on the left but the Wigan custodian was able to reflexively claw the ball away.

The visitors doubled their lead three minutes after half-time as Antonee Robinson, playing for the first time after undergoing treatment for a heart issue which led to his transfer to AC Milan being cancelled in January, found Lowe.

Lowe teed up Pilkington and the midfielder who made more than 100 appearances for Huddersfield between 2009 and 2011