Huddersfield Town Manager previews Preston North End game
- Danny Cowley looks ahead to visit of Lilywhites
- Town Manager on staying focused over the coming weeks
- Watch clips from Danny’s press conference on #HTTV!
Huddersfield Town Manager Danny Cowley insists the squad is focused ahead of Saturday’s game against Preston North End.
The Terriers will welcome the Lilywhites to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday, three days after that first win since the restart against Birmingham City.
Danny insists Town still have a lot of work to do over the coming weeks, despite climbing out of the relegation zone following the win at St. Andrew’s in midweek.
Speaking to the media via his virtual press conference ahead of the Preston game, Town’s Manager said that the group is focused on staying in the moment and not getting too carried away.
"I was really proud of how the group came together after a difficult moment, but we are focused and not getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“For me personally, I just focus on what I can control, I’ve always done that. For the boys, we encourage them to do the same.
“Ultimately, we know what we need to do, we’ve known what we needed to do since the moment we came in the building.
“We know it’s a crazy league, we know it’s a crazy time and we know there’s a lot of emotion around, but this is a time for calm, composure, clear minds and for us to make intelligent decisions and use all of our energy to affect the group in a positive way.”
Following that win at St. Andrew’s on Wednesday night, Danny’s focus immediately turned to the challenge that lies ahead in Alex Neil’s Preston on Saturday afternoon.
Town’s Manager explained what he expects from the promotion-chasing Lilywhites.
“We’ve got an awful lot of respect for Preston. I think Alex Neil has done a very good job there.
“They’re a direct team, they play forward quickly, and they ask a lot of questions of you. Physically, they are also very good and one of the best teams in terms of intensity and aggression in the division.
“We know with Preston exactly what we’re up against and we need to make sure that we compete with them.
“They will come, and they will try to bully us, and we need to make sure collectively that we stand up, and that’s what we intend to do.”
Preston’s visit to West Yorkshire on Saturday is the first of Town’s final six Sky Bet Championship games this season.
Having now seen his side play three times since the restart, Danny is well aware of both the physical and psychological challenges that the current circumstances pose but insists that it’s something everyone at the Club is taking in their stride.
“The games are coming thick and fast, there’s no hiding place from that.
“I watched the Hull vs Middlesbrough game yesterday, I’ve watched some of the Premier League games too, and there’s a lot of players picking up injuries now which I think we all anticipated.
“We had a very small period of time to prepare the players for what is a monster of a schedule and it’s definitely tough physically.
“But we love football and we’re enjoying the challenges in-front of us. It’s different, it’s a physical and a mental challenge and I really like that.
“I’m enjoying it and I know the players are embracing it too which is good to see.”
Another thing that Danny has enjoyed seeing in the differing circumstances of the last few weeks is the squad’s togetherness both on and off the pitch.
Town’s Manager recalled seeing how happy Tommy Elphick was for his teammates following Wednesday’s victory, after the injured defender had travelled down to St Andrew’s with the squad.
“The feeling was that it would benefit the group (Tommy travelling with the squad). It was great to see him celebrating, it’s always nice.
“You see the third goal, watch Jon Gorenc Stanković too, watch his celebrations and watch what it means to him.
“When I talk about feeling proud the morning after the game, it’s them moments that make me proud; working with really good people, and in our dressing room we’ve got some really good people.”
Watch clips from Danny’s press conference below on #HTTV!
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