Terriers seal safe harbour
A WEEK that started with a dreaded vote of confidence ended with a double which should just about secure Huddersfield’s league status next season.
Chairman Phil Hodkinson declared his faith in manager Carlos Corberan and it seems the under-fire boss was listening.
The players responded too, with goals from Aaron Rowe and Juninho Bacuna.
Corberan said: “Are we safe? No chance. Fortyseven points is not enough and we must keep our concentration for the last four games.”
Huddersfield’s fall from grace has been quite spectacular. The pre-match stats told a gruesome story — one win in 10, two in 19 and the magnetic pull of the relegation zone.
Corberan added: “It was an important three points. We continued to be brave in the attack and this was a team performance.”
It took a while to begin though. Forest started with intent, all the early pressure and a real threat in the form of Filip Krovinovic, who was denied twice by
Ryan Schofield. Town stood firm and began to claw back territory and impetus.
Veteran striker Frazier Campbell was a thorn for Forest’s defenders, cheekily trying an overhead kick from a ridiculous angle.
Sadly for Corberan, he did not last until half-time due to a shoulder injury.
Those remaining couple of minutes to the break were very productive as Rowe jumped on a bad back-pass from James Garner and beat Brice Samba with a low effort.
It was Rowe’s first league goal of the season and he had earlier been denied by the Forest keeper.
The goal transformed the Yorkshiremen. It looked likely a matter of time before another goal and Bacuna provided a beauty — long range, top corner — despite being surrounded by red shirts.
Forest never really hinted at a fightback and boss Chris Hughton issued a tough reminder to the players.
He said: “We’ve become more resolute recently but we made two mistakes, they capitalised and we got punished. Huddersfield fought hard. We have been in really good form but it is not acceptable to end the season on a low.
“We are still not mathematically safe and the players are aware.”
Neither are Town but the eight-point gap on thirdfrom-bottom Rotherham is beginning to look like it will be enough.
N FOREST: Samba 7; Christie 7, Worrall 6, McKenna 6, Blackett 6; Yates 6 (Cafu 63, 5), Garner 5; Knockaert 6 (Freeman 80), Krovinovic 6 (Taylor 63, 5), Mighten 5; Grabban 5 (Murray 80). Unused subs: Smith, Ribeiro, Soh, Colback, Jenkinson.
HUDDERSFIELD: Schofield 7; Pipa 6 (High 85), Keogh 7, Sarr 6, Toffolo 6 (Edmonds-Green 66, 5); Bacuna 7, Hogg 8; Holmes 6 (Brown 85), O’Brien 6, Rowe 7; Campbell 7 (Ward 42, 6). Unused subs: Pereira, Stearman, Aarons, Koroma, Thomas.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jonathan Hogg. A huge result for Huddersfield and they needed Hogg’s calm head.
REFEREE: Andy Woolmer 6.