SIMON GRAYSON shunned the credit for Huddersfield Town’s dramatic promotion glory.

The Galpharm boss instead hailed his players and predecessor Lee Clark, who parted company with Town after the 1-0 home defeat by play-off final opponents Sheffield United back in February.

“We came in with a remit to get promotion and we’ve managed to do that,” said Grayson, referring to himself and management staff Glynn Snodin and Ian Miller.

“But a lot of credit has to go to Lee Clark, who brought the players here.

“Then, when they had to do, the players stepped up and took responsibility during an amazing penalty shoot-out.

“When we got together to sort out the first five, we never imagined it would go down to the goalkeepers both taking one.

“How we recovered after missing the first three I’ll never know, because the lad who stepped up first were the ones who were feeling most confident.”

Huddersfield Town fans, watch THAT moment again - plus full list of penalties (Click to watch video + story)

On keeper Alex Smithies, who scored from the spot in front of the massed ranks of Town fans to put his side 8-7 up in sudden death then watched as opposite number Steve Simonsen drove his effort over the bar, Grayson said: “I expected him to save a couple, which he did, but not to score the decisive one!”

Smithies wouldn’t have started the final had veteran Ian Bennett been fit after a hand injury picked up during the semi-final second leg against MK Dons.

“Ian had a fitness test on Thursday and decided he wasn’t right. He made the decision for me,” said Grayson.

“It’s full credit to Ian and the professional that he is, and I had no worries about Alex coming in.”

Huddersfield Town keeper Ian Bennett on missing the final and praise for Alex Smithies (Click to watch the post-match video)

Grayson and chairman Dean Hoyle sat side by side in the Town dug-out during the penalties, and the boss added: “I couldn’t affect anything by that stage. I didn’t actually look, just saw who was taking them, listened to the crowd then watched the replays.

“It was an incredible end to a game I thought we had the better of.

“We always said winning promotion at Wembley is the best way of doing it. The fans are ecstatic, the chairman’s ecstatic and the players are ecstatic.”

Click to view a gallery of the Huddersfield Town players and management celebrate as they win the play-off final