Michael Duff hails Huddersfield ‘courage’ after fightback against Barnsley

Huddersfield boss Michael Duff praised his team for their response to the fans’ half-time frustrations after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

The visitors trailed at the break thanks to Jon Russell’s opener, but turned the game on its head in the second half thanks to two goals in three minutes through Josh Koroma and Ben Wiles.

Victory ended the Terriers’ five-match winless run and boosted their play-off hopes.

Duff said: “It’s difficult, there is pressure when there’s 4,000 fans, but the players have to deal with it.

“We have created 19 chances away from home and we had chances before the goal to open the scoring. I’m not sure how Josh (Koroma) missed the header just before.

“We have some good players, but the players need to realise that and make the right decisions. But to come back from a goal down in a local derby takes courage.

“It’s the best way to win, going a goal down and having a reaction and showing that they still care.”

Duff understood why his players were subjected to boos from some fans at half-time.

He said: “We had a set-up way of playing and they didn’t do it. We kept trying to get in from one and two passes, but it wasn’t working.

“They took a little bit of heat from the supporters and from me. Stand up and do your job properly and they did.”

Barnsley head coach Darrell Clarke was furious with his team’s second-half showing.

Clarke said: “I have to calm my nerves because I am angry and frustrated. I am the boss and take responsibility and accountability all the time, but I thought today, certainly in the second half, the players were nowhere near the level they needed to be at.

“It’s been a regular occurrence for too many games this season.

“In the second half we never got going. Don’t get me started on the goals – our free-kick, they counter and score. The second one, I’m speechless, players have a job to do and they don’t do it.”

Clarke insisted Barnsley would still be in play-off contention despite their poor form, saying: “I think there are six or seven players in my group who are top-six League One players and the rest I’ve got to try and get them up to that level.

“I believe I will get success here, but it will just take more time than I would have hoped.

“Sometimes that team comes with a late run and I don’t see why that can’t be us.”