Battling mentality pleases new Huddersfield Town boss

Dec 22 2008 By Doug Thomson

LEE CLARK said the spell when Town came under the cosh told him as much about his new charges as the final 2-0 winning result in his first match at the helm against Hereford.

"I knew I was inheriting a good, confident group of lads, but when we were under pressure early in the second half, they showed they are prepared to stand up and be counted," said the 36-year-old manager.

"That’s a fantastic attribute and I have to thank Gerry Murphy and Graham Mitchell for instilling that mentality into them."

The victory was sealed by Nathan Clarke (70 minutes) and Gary Roberts (77), but Clark hailed the whole team after 10th-placed Town’s sixth win in seven League I games.

"Everyone made a fantastic contribution, including the lads who came off the bench."

Clark made two telling substitutions – strikers Phil Jevons and Danny Cadamarteri for sweeper James Berrett and midfielder Ian Craney after 58 and 65 minutes respectively.

"Hereford came into the game in the second half and caused us a few problems down the wide areas," he explained.