Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom spoke to the media this morning ahead of tomorrow’s big Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town.
Hecky started by giving team news and an update on the fitness of his squad following Wednesday night’s victory over Queens Park Rangers.
He said, “Couple of usual little knocks, bumps and bruises but hopefully we’ll have everybody fit. He’s (Adam Hammill) available, no news nothing yet! Just ongoing with that. The players have been performing really well so you don’t really want to mess around and alter that, but it is a short space of time since the last game.”
With two victories out of three in the league so far, the Reds will now play their first Yorkshire Derby of the campaign against The Terriers.
Heckingbottom gave his thoughts by saying, “Huddersfield are in a good place at the minute and it’s a Yorkshire Derby, adrenaline is great and can keep you going but we have to be on top of it and realises as the game’s going on anything that’s needed.
“They’re a good side, unbeaten, I went to Villa to watch them down there. Villa were much the better side first half and should have been more in front, but Huddersfield withstood it as the game went on they got better. They love to pass the ball, lots of movement when they have got possession, then try to defend really strongly when they haven’t.”
Reflecting on an excellent midweek victory over QPR, Heckingbottom was pleased with the competitiveness of his side.
“The pleasing thing was that we competed well. We spoke about nullifying QPR’s threats then imposing ourselves, how we wanted to play in the game and we did that, so there were a lot of positives from it but once again, the step-up in class and playing in the Championship against a better overall standard of player, we’ve seen how it can nearly cost you with two penalties, two little lapses.
“It’s the same old messages, we know that, and it’s the same for every team. We’re all trying and taking it on-board and trying to get better.
Hecky continued, “There’s a confidence, a belief and the knowledge that the players belong here, they’ve got here on merit and they’re now performing and winning games here on merit. You want the confidence and belief but you don’t want complacency. We know we could play like that (against Derby and QPR) in some games but we may not get the result, so it’s about keeping our feet firmly on the ground and know what it takes to get the win. It’s the game by game mentality that we had last year.”
Watch the full extended press conference with Paul Heckingbottom over on Barnsley Player HD!
