ON-LOAN striker Benik Afobe insists Huddersfield Town’s players take defeat as badly as chairman Dean Hoyle following this latest reversal.
Mr Hoyle sparked much comment before Saturday’s game with his match programme notes which, among other things, implied the team do not care.
Card Factory magnate Mr Hoyle was referring to last week’s defeat at Oldham, when only skipper Peter Clarke and Antony Kay appeared to acknowledge the fans at the end.
The quick exit did not escape Mr Hoyle’s attention and he wrote in a personal apology for the whole team performance: “It appeared our players could not wait to get off the pitch at the final whistle.
“It pains me to say that in my time as chairman I have never felt as low as I did on Saturday after Oldham. On that afternoon I felt very let down, like many of our 4,000 travelling fans who follow us away, week after week, paying hard earned money in difficult times, and I apologise to you.”
Mr Hoyle also questioned the team’s promotion ambition.
“I expect our experienced players to take control and to turn matches when our backs are against the wall.
“People may be surprised by my reaction to this single defeat, but I have always said this club has never been able to buy the talent we have now – but it has always had a ‘never say die’ attitude.
“Whether it is fair or not, I have asked myself several searching questions over the past few days; do our players have the fight and bottle to face up to a physical and wound-up opposing team? Was the trip to Boundary Park not inspiring enough? Does our team have the real desire to get out of this league? This week I have posed these questions to Lee Clark.”
But Arsenal striker Afobe, who pepped up Town’s attack as a second half sub, said the players are passionate and were left hurt by Exeter’s narrow win.
He said: “We’ve heard a bit about the article, but we’re trying not to think about it. It’s something that should be left for the manager to sort out.
“Everybody in the dressing room is upset by the defeat.
“The players are blaming themselves and each other. We need to get it out of our heads for Tuesday.
“All the players though are united behind each other and the manager (Lee Clark). He’s a fantastic guy who’s done a lot for me in three weeks I’ve been here.”
Town, now ninth in the table following a second League I defeat in a week, hit the bar twice and controlled most of the game without making a breakthrough.
Afobe said: “The result’s a setback and we’re all disappointed. The gaffer (Clark) told us afterwards that we’d had most of the possession, maybe as much as 70%.
“But Exeter closed us down well and were forcing us to play from the back more. Perhaps we should’ve moved the ball faster and tried to get in behind them.
“We created a few chances just before I came on and in the last few minutes it looked like we were going to score as well, but it wasn’t to be.”
On his future at Town he said: “I’d love to stay. It’s first-team football and it’s what I’ve dreamed of since I was a boy. I’ll be delighted if something can be worked out.”