Joe Garner plays through pain for Huddersfield Town to answer all the boo boys

Aug 9 2010 By Doug Thomson

JOE GARNER missed out on a debut goal for Town, but was delighted to contribute to a comprehensive victory.

The 22-year-old on-loan Nottingham Forest striker was barracked by fans of arch-rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane, just 300 yards away from the City Ground base of his parent club.

And he soaked up plenty of physical punishment from Craig Short’s side, as well as requiring treatment after blocking Liam Chilvers’ ferocious volley late in the first half.

That prevented Notts halving a 2-0 deficit, and typified the Blackburn-born player’s workrate at both ends of the pitch.

"The ball caught me awkwardly, and I was in pain for a moment or two, but I’m fine," said the man who cost Forest £1,140,000 from Carlisle, tomorrow’s Carling Cup first-round opponents at Brunton Park, back in July 2008.

"It’s part and parcel of the game, and I was pleased to be able to keep the ball out, because a clean sheet was a priority."

Garner shot narrowly wide when through one-on-one with goalkeeper Rob Burch in the first half and hit the bar with a dipping effort in the second, and pledged: "The goals will come.

"The main thing is that we went to a tough venue and came away with a deserved win, and it’s a great result for the club."