No sweat for Ismael
VALERIEN ISMAEL is not concerned by the eightpoint gap to the automatic promotion places after 10-man West Brom went down to their fourth straight away defeat.
Scott High’s threaded ball dissected the Baggies defence and found Danny Ward whose pass across goal created an easy tap-in for Danel Sinani.
West Brom created few clear-cut chances with Kyle Bartley heading straight at the keeper while Taylor Gardnerhickman flashed a volley wide and Matt Clarke glanced the ball past the post late on.
Their task got even harder when Jake Livermore was given a straight red card for a high boot which caught Fraizer Campbell full in the face.
It left the Baggies eight points behind
Bournemouth who play today with Huddersfield one point off the top six.
Ismael said: “In the Championship anything can happen. Last season I did it with Barnsley. There are many games left, things will change.
“We just need to stay focused. But one thing I can say, to attack, to be involved at the top you need to win with consistency.
“At the minute we aren’t winning with consistency so this is what we need to work on.
“Then we can create momentum and put pressure on the opponent.”
Ismael insisted
Livermore should have been booked with the club considering a possible appeal and he believed they should also have had two penalties.
He bemoaned his side’s lack of killer instinct but was adamant they deserved to take something from the game, saying: “I think even with 10 men we tried until the end to score goals and the problem at the minute is we work well until the last third, we create the chances but we need too many chances to score.”
Victory was the reward for a fine team performance by Huddersfield as they surpassed the Baggies’ intensity and enthusiasm.
Boss Carlos Corberan said: “I think the players need to be proud enough of all the work they have put in.
“This is three points that I think reflect the mentality of the team. I think this mentality can not only help you to repeat and to improve performances but can help us to face the games with confidence that we can compete with any type of opponent.”
HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls 7; Pearson 8, Sarr 8, Colwill 7; Turton 7, High 7, O’brien 8, Toffolo 7; Ward 7 (Campbell 68, 7), Sinani 7 (Russell 90), Thomas 7 (Ruffels 86).
Subs not used: Schofield, Odubeko, Koroma, Aarons.
WEST BROM: Johnstone 6; Kipre 7, Clarke 7, Bartley 7; Gardner-hickman 6, Livermore 5 (s/o 78), Mowatt 6 (Molumby 75, 6), Townsend 6; Diangana 6 (Hugill 61, 6), Phillips 6 (Furlong 82); Grant 6. Subs not used: Button, Ajayi, Robinson, Reach.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Lewis O’brien: The fulcrum in the Terriers’ midfield, he instigated many attacks while battling hard in defence.
REFEREE: Tim Robinson 7.