Huddersfield Town manager Michael Duff has delivered a clear message to his squad ahead of their EFL Trophy clash against Barnsley, urging them to build on the momentum gained from their 2-0 victory over the same opposition just days earlier.
Speaking ahead of the game at the John Smith’s Stadium, Duff made it clear that tonight’s match is not just an opportunity to rotate the squad but also to continue the positive progress seen on Saturday. The win against Barnsley ended a difficult run of four consecutive defeats, and Duff knows the importance of turning that into a sustained run of good form. Huddersfield currently find themselves at the bottom of their EFL Trophy group after losing their opening match to Doncaster Rovers, meaning anything less than a win tonight could jeopardise their hopes of advancing in the competition.
“These games are often used to blood youngsters and for fringe players, so I have no idea what team Barnsley will field, but we’re interested in ourselves. It’s can we back up the performance, can we back up the result?” Duff said in a pre-match press conference on Monday.
The Huddersfield boss is not underestimating the challenge ahead and emphasised the need for a strong mentality from his players, particularly if they face adversity during the match. “A win, I think that’s it really. You want the same thing [performance] as Saturday, but it’s not going to happen,” Duff remarked. “The only thing that we haven’t done is found a result when we’ve been really poor. We’ve been pretty good or pretty bad, so if we get a little bit of adversity—if we go 1-0 down, or something happens, we get an injury that goes against us—how can we react?”
It’s this inconsistency that Duff is most concerned about, as he reflected on his team’s fluctuating form this season. “Five wins and five losses probably tells you everything. We’ve had one win and that’s it, it’s not like we’re on a really good run,” he admitted. Duff highlighted the importance of giving opportunities to certain players to gain match fitness but also stressed the need to pick the right balance to ensure victory.
Huddersfield’s form has been erratic, with the team struggling to maintain a steady run of results. However, Saturday’s win, secured through late goals from Ben Wiles and David Kasumu, brought much-needed relief to a squad that had previously found it difficult to click on the pitch. Duff praised his side for their dominant display in that game, but he was quick to point out the areas that still need improvement.
“I think we were pretty dominant throughout,” Duff said of the Barnsley victory. “We did all three parts of the game well. I thought we looked good with the ball, we were good without the ball, and in transitions we were good as well. Probably the one criticism would be 17 corners and no goals. I think we’ve had a lot of corners and the delivery’s been good, we can’t just rely on Matty Pearson to get on the end of it; we need someone else to get on the end of something.”
Duff also acknowledged the pressure that has been building around the club, with fans and media expressing concerns over Huddersfield’s poor start to the season. Yet, he believes Saturday’s performance was a positive step forward. “I was pleased with most parts, and particularly under the pressure. There has been a lot of noise, and I think it was probably the most controlled performance that we’ve had this season, definitely at home.”
As Huddersfield look to maintain their upward trajectory, tonight’s match against Barnsley presents a perfect opportunity for Duff’s side to demonstrate that they are capable of consistency—a trait they have sorely lacked so far this season. The squad will need to show resilience and the ability to grind out results, especially in situations where things don’t go according to plan.
Writer’s View
Michael Duff’s call for consistency at Huddersfield Town reflects a manager aware of the challenges that come with managing a team in transition. The team’s erratic form—winning one week and losing the next—has made it difficult for them to build any real momentum. Duff’s focus on finding a balance between giving players minutes and fielding a competitive team shows he understands the bigger picture, but he also knows that in football, patience wears thin without results.
The pressure is undoubtedly mounting on Huddersfield, and while the win over Barnsley was a step in the right direction, the team’s tendency to swing between highs and lows could derail their season if not addressed swiftly. Duff’s desire for consistency and composure is admirable, but the question remains whether his squad can deliver on that front. If they fail to back up Saturday’s win with another strong performance, it could prove a long and difficult campaign for the Terriers.
