Rhodes ready for play-off battle ahead

JORDAN Rhodes summed up the mentality that has seen Huddersfield Town secure a top-six finish by revealing there was some disappointment among the players with the performance that saw them secure it.

The Terriers booked their place in the play-offs when they coasted to a 2-1 win over Barnsley last week after Rhodes and Harry Toffolo scored first-half goals.

That result meant Town were at least assured a top-six place, although any hopes now of an automatic promotion slot are over.

“I think everybody after that Friday night maybe felt a little bit downbeat after the game with the fact we maybe didn’t play as well as we would have hoped to have played, but not all games will allow that kind of free-flowing football sometimes and credit to Barnsley,” said striker Rhodes.

“But, ultimately, it was a matter of getting that win and securing that play-off spot, and as time went by and everybody got in the changing rooms it was reasons to celebrate afterwards and a realisation that ‘you know what, we’ve achieved something this year that is to be celebrated’.

“I think the lads have come round to that now.

“Those are games where you really want to be trying your best and putting in some good performances because, ultimately, there’s two games extra, minimum, coming at the end of the season that you want to make sure you’re sharp and you’re prepared for.

“We’ll just try to go into that game with the best attitude that we possibly can to do what we can on our side of things.

“These are the stages of the season where keeping something alive is what you want as a footballer.

“I’ve been in seasons before where two or three games don’t matter towards the end of the season, and these are the games you want to be part of: when things are riding on them, fans are still coming to the games with hope and optimism, and the lads are going into games still nervous but wanting to do the best they can to get the three points, to see where that leaves the table when you come off and turn your phone on at 5.10pm to look where you are in the table and who’s done what.

“As a young footballer and even as a 32-year-old that’s still really exciting and what you want to be part of.”

These are the stages of the season where keeping something alive is what you want as a footballer