Huddersfield Town’s new manager bounce appears to be well and truly over, after the Terriers lost for the third time in four matches at the weekend.
Wigan Athletic, who were without Joe Taylor, inflicted the same 1-0 scoreline that Doncaster Rovers and Stevenage had also beaten Huddersfield by in the previous fortnight. It leaves Liam Manning with just a singular victory in February, after winning his first three matches in charge of the West Yorkshire outfit.
Reaction From Former Boss
Manning had taken the reigns at the Accu Stadium after Lee Grant was sacked following a run of four matches without victory. The former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper took his first senior managerial position last May, when he was appointed Huddersfield boss. It was an appointment that raised plenty of eyebrows, with fans of the Terriers citing his lack of managerial experience as a particular cause for concern.
And ultimately, that gamble didn’t work out. They were tipped by many to win automatic promotion back to the Championship, strengthening across the board following the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs last season. A 3-1 defeat by Burton Albion in the middle of January proved to be the final straw, a result which left Huddersfield clinging on to sixth position in League One.
Posting on his LinkedIn page, Grant reflected on his time in charge of the West Yorkshire outfit.
“As Managers we know the landscape we are operating in can be a brutal one. It’s certainly all consuming. At the same time it brings huge fulfilment and joy. I Loved every moment and every facet of my time as Manager of Huddersfield Town AFC.
“Obviously I’ve experienced the full raft of emotions over the last few weeks. It’s important to recognise the excellent work that has taken place and was ongoing. Despite all of the work and so many things pointing in the right direction, it wasn’t enough. Time to reflect. Take the learnings.
“Looking forward to what’s next.”
No Change In Results
Grant’s message delved into the positives from his time in charge, such as the development of players and their impressive scoring record. But one point that was also mentioned was the Terriers 10 point deficit to the automatic promotion places. Today’s table has seen that gap almost double to 19 points, while they are once again looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack, who are looking to snatch sixth position.
Reading, Stevenage and Wycombe Wanderers are within touching distance of Huddersfield, all with the potential to overtake them if they win their games in hand. The mood in this part of West Yorkshire is already beginning to turn, after the brief uplift in form following Manning’s appointment. Even the possibility of a Wembley appearance in the EFL Trophy Final is gone, meaning their focus is fully centred on making a trip to the same venue in May for the League One play-off final.