When Huddersfield Town returns to League One play tomorrow afternoon at Bolton Wanderers, head coach Michael Duff expects a “really difficult game.”
After the international break, the Terriers host the Trotters at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. This is a matchup between a team that has finished in the division’s play-offs on multiple occasions.
During the 2022–2023 season, Ian Evatt’s team lost to Oxford United in the Wembley final, and they were defeated by Duff’s Barnsley club in the play-off semi-finals.
“A lot of the work has already been done in terms of shape, structure, and other things, and the guys we probably need to put in more effort haven’t been with us. Callum Marshall, one of the new recruits, and many other guys participated in pre-season with us.
“It’s given us the chance to relax and recover, assess our situation, work on a few things that we always do, and hopefully turn things around.”
Duff received a one-match touchline punishment after being sent off against Rotherham United, so he won’t be in the dugout for the encounter on Saturday. Instead, he will be in the stands.
“Normally it’s me and Kevin Russell (in the dugout), and Martin Paterson sits in the back of the stand on the earpiece, I’ll just switch places with Pato,” the head coach said, downplaying the gravity of the penalty.
It shouldn’t have too much of an impact because I’m still in the dressing room before, during, and after the game.
It is the Terriers’ responsibility to
Duff offered his perspective on the most recent setbacks, saying, “It depends how you look at things.” You can look at our 48-year best start or at the two cup games where, in my opinion, there was plenty to take away from the negative, but those two clubs’ performances in the two games they lost have nothing in common with their league performances.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, and we made a crucial choice that was incorrect, even though I didn’t think Rotherham’s performance was all that great.
“People are up and down in football. Naturally, we dislike losing, but there must also be some background information. After a two-week hiatus, we’ve forgotten about it and are simply moving on to the next, like we always do.
