Martin Cranie insists the positives of Championship success against Brentford outweigh the negatives of League Cup elimination at Shrewsbury as Huddersfield Town look forward to tackling Newcastle United.
The versatile defender watched the Magpies’ defeat at Fulham in the first second-tier match of the new campaign, and says he and his teammates believe they can further frustrate Rafa Benitez’s side.
“They are a strong side, of course, but this is a competitive division and we have the players to pose them problems,” said the former Barnsley man who is competing with Tommy Smith for Town’s right-back berth.
“Particularly at this early stage, teams are still gelling and finding their way, and one thing we know is that we can’t afford to waste our chances like we did at Shrewsbury the other night.
“There are likely to be fewer at Newcastle than there were down there, so it’s important we make them count, because had we done that in the League Cup match, we wouldn’t have gone out.
“It was disappointing, but there were good things about our performance, particularly in the first half, and we showed against Brentford that we are a capable side when we play our way and get it right.
“They beat us twice last season, but we were well worth the points last Saturday, and I think that shows that we have the potential to push on this season.”
Yeovil-born Cranie, 29, who has also played for Southampton, Portsmouth and Coventry City, has played a variety of roles for Town, who signed him last summer, but has been told to focus on playing right-back.
“Tommy (Smith) is a good player and a good mate, and I want him to do well in his career, but competition is an important thing in football,” continued Cranie, who was in the starting side at Shrewsbury after being on the bench against Brentford.
“We both want that shirt and that’s the way it should be.”
