LEE CLARK surveyed Huddersfield Town’s comprehensive win in West London and smiled: “I think we’ve shown we are a good team.”
Other than the opening 15 minutes, when Town didn’t play with the tempo their manager wanted, Clark said his players were “outstanding”.
“Brentford are a good side and they started well, but we began to cause them problems from set-plays, with Gary Roberts making some great deliveries,” said Clark, whose recall of the winger was one of four changes following the 2-2 home draw with Leyton Orient.
While Roberts, who completed the 4-0 victory, replaced Danny Ward, captain Peter Clarke came in for suspended Jamie McCombe, Tommy Miller for Oscar Gobern and two-goal Jordan Rhodes for Lee Novak, who came off the bench to notch Town’s second.
“Jordan got us ahead with a terrific goal, and we played the second half the way I wanted us to,” continued Clark.
“We moved the ball well, we were clinical when the chances came and we kept a clean sheet, which was important and very pleasing.”
Clark made an early change to his back four, with Calum Woods coming off with a tight hamstring in the 13th minute and Liam Cooper, normally a centre-back, coming on to take up left-back duties.
“We didn’t want to take an risks with Calum, and Liam did an excellent job,” said Clark.
“Peter Clarke showed why we rate him so highly both as a player and a person, because he has responded really well to being out of the side.
“And Tommy Miller came in a produced the kind of performance I know he’s capable of from watching him all through his career.”
Clark also paid tribute to the coaching staff for ensuring Town’s players were able to cope with the hot conditions.
“They deserve a pat on the back. The conditions were tough for preparation as well as the match, and they ensured the lads were fully hydrated,” he added.
