Huddersfield Town 3 Leeds United 2: McDermott rues missed penalty
YEP 26/10/13
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins refused to let talk of a training ground bust-up between Adam Clayton and Martin Paterson overshadow his side’s thrilling 3-2 derby win over rivals Leeds.
Midfielder Clayton and Northern Ireland international striker Paterson were both left out of Huddersfield’s matchday squad following reports of a fight between the pair during training on Friday.
But after Jon Stead’s second-half winner clinched his side’s first win in six league games, Robins played down the incident.
“There’s bits and pieces happening in training up and down the country every day,” said Robins.
“There’s nothing to report, nothing sinister, nothing serious. Their omission was nothing to do with what may or may not have happened on the training ground.
“My decisions are based purely on the good of the team and football club. Every decision I make, I try to do that.
“It’s great to be sat here winning the game because those decisions are fully vindicated, so I’ll continue in the same vein.
“I’ll pick the team that I feel is capable of winning the game for us, but also a togetherness, team spirit and bond between the players - that’s massively important.
“They will be back in training (on Sunday) and whichever days next week.”
Huddersfield striker Stead upstaged Leeds’ new loan signing Dexter Blackstock by firing his first goal in his second spell for his hometown club.
Stead turned sharply to arrow a low shot into the bottom corner in the 77th minute, four minutes after Blackstock, signed this week on loan from Nottingham Forest, had headed an equaliser for Leeds with his first touch, less than 60 seconds after stepping off the bench.
In the early stages of the match, Leeds striker Matt Smith headed his third goal in two matches to give the visitors the lead.
Huddersfield winger Danny Ward smashed home a 10th-minute equaliser and Tom Lees’ headed own goal just after the hour-mark gave Huddersfield a 2-1 advantage.
Stead hit the post after rounding Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in the second half, while Luke Murphy and Smith were both guilty of glaring second-half misses for the visitors and referee Neil Swarbrick was unmoved after Blackstock went tumbling in the box in the closing stages.
“Jon was excellent from start to finish,” Robins added. “I’m really pleased for him because before that he’s gone through, round the goalkeeper and done everything right and hit the outside of the post.
“And then to get an opportunity to win the game, in what I think is his first derby game against Leeds for Huddersfield, I’m delighted for him.
“Long may that continue because that gives us another avenue to go down.”
Leeds boss Brian McDermott could not hide his disappointment after a fifth straight away defeat and a fifth loss in seven league games for his team.
He also felt referee Swarbrick got the decision wrong when denying Leeds the late penalty they wanted.
“The ref’s missed a stonewall penalty right at the end,” McDermott said.
“I’ve just seen it, three times. He was close to it as well, so it’s unfortunate he’s missed it.”
Leeds midfielder Luke Murphy was guilty of a glaring miss on the hour mark with the scores level at 1-1, following a brilliant interchange between Sam Byram and Rudy Austin.
“We created an awful lot of chances, but have to learn how to manage games away from home,” McDermott said.
“For a long time now, away from home, Leeds haven’t been doing what they need to do to get results.
“The football for Luke Murphy’s chance was terrific, it really was.
“It was good football and if that goes in maybe it’s a different game.”
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins refused to let talk of a training ground bust-up between Adam Clayton and Martin Paterson overshadow his side’s thrilling 3-2 derby win over rivals Leeds.
Midfielder Clayton and Northern Ireland international striker Paterson were both left out of Huddersfield’s matchday squad following reports of a fight between the pair during training on Friday.
But after Jon Stead’s second-half winner clinched his side’s first win in six league games, Robins played down the incident.
“There’s bits and pieces happening in training up and down the country every day,” said Robins.
“There’s nothing to report, nothing sinister, nothing serious. Their omission was nothing to do with what may or may not have happened on the training ground.
“My decisions are based purely on the good of the team and football club. Every decision I make, I try to do that.
“It’s great to be sat here winning the game because those decisions are fully vindicated, so I’ll continue in the same vein.
“I’ll pick the team that I feel is capable of winning the game for us, but also a togetherness, team spirit and bond between the players - that’s massively important.
“They will be back in training (on Sunday) and whichever days next week.”
Huddersfield striker Stead upstaged Leeds’ new loan signing Dexter Blackstock by firing his first goal in his second spell for his hometown club.
Stead turned sharply to arrow a low shot into the bottom corner in the 77th minute, four minutes after Blackstock, signed this week on loan from Nottingham Forest, had headed an equaliser for Leeds with his first touch, less than 60 seconds after stepping off the bench.
In the early stages of the match, Leeds striker Matt Smith headed his third goal in two matches to give the visitors the lead.
Huddersfield winger Danny Ward smashed home a 10th-minute equaliser and Tom Lees’ headed own goal just after the hour-mark gave Huddersfield a 2-1 advantage.
Stead hit the post after rounding Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny in the second half, while Luke Murphy and Smith were both guilty of glaring second-half misses for the visitors and referee Neil Swarbrick was unmoved after Blackstock went tumbling in the box in the closing stages.
“Jon was excellent from start to finish,” Robins added. “I’m really pleased for him because before that he’s gone through, round the goalkeeper and done everything right and hit the outside of the post.
“And then to get an opportunity to win the game, in what I think is his first derby game against Leeds for Huddersfield, I’m delighted for him.
“Long may that continue because that gives us another avenue to go down.”
Leeds boss Brian McDermott could not hide his disappointment after a fifth straight away defeat and a fifth loss in seven league games for his team.
He also felt referee Swarbrick got the decision wrong when denying Leeds the late penalty they wanted.
“The ref’s missed a stonewall penalty right at the end,” McDermott said.
“I’ve just seen it, three times. He was close to it as well, so it’s unfortunate he’s missed it.”
Leeds midfielder Luke Murphy was guilty of a glaring miss on the hour mark with the scores level at 1-1, following a brilliant interchange between Sam Byram and Rudy Austin.
“We created an awful lot of chances, but have to learn how to manage games away from home,” McDermott said.
“For a long time now, away from home, Leeds haven’t been doing what they need to do to get results.
“The football for Luke Murphy’s chance was terrific, it really was.
“It was good football and if that goes in maybe it’s a different game.”