Huddersfield Town’s Steve Black on play-off mental magic

May 15 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

STEVE BLACK believes Town are more than ready for their play-off challenge – because they’ve been preparing for it since last June.

“I’m not a big one for the big Hollywood-style motivation speech,” said Town’s performance coach, who is responsible for preparing the players both physically and mentally for their two-legged League I semi-final showdown against Millwall, which starts at the Galpharm today (12.15).

“It’s about setting a sub-culture, working on things day by day by day so they become habitual.

“I try to find trigger words that work for players, whether it’s as a group or as individuals, and I think we’ve achieved that this season.

“We’ve made great progress on a number of fronts, and the aim is to take that into these two games.

“Having seen them in training this week, I know they are massively up for them, and one of my aims is to keep them composed and directed rather than send them over the top.”

Bumper crowds should create a great atmosphere at both venues – the second leg is at The New Den on Tuesday (7.45) – but Black, who arrived at the Galpharm alongside manager Lee Clark in December 2008, says the preparation will be the same as for a regular-season match.

“The occasion takes care of itself,” explained the former nightclub doorman, who has also worked with Newcastle, Fulham and Sunderland as well as the British and Irish Lions and a string of other rugby union teams.

“We have simply been trying to ensure the players know their jobs, individually and collectively, that they know the tactics and overall strategy and that they get into the team ethic and that they know just what it means to succeed.

“In any walk of life, to be a success, you have to play to your strengths.

“We’ve scored 100 goals this season, which is marvellous, and any neutrals talking about us say that this team has got goals in it.