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David Wagner says Huddersfield's finishing needs to improve after draw with Birmingham

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09:  Huddersfield manager David Wagner during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round between Huddersfield Town and Reading at John
Image: David Wagner admits Huddersfield's finishing needs to improve after centre-back Joel Lynch scored in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham

David Wagner admits Huddersfield's finishing needs to improve after centre-back Joel Lynch scored the equaliser in his side's 1-1 draw with Birmingham.

The Terriers created a host of chances but rarely tested visiting keeper Tomasz Kuszczak in a clash which had little riding on it at the John Smith's Stadium.

Wagner said: "We had problems with our finishing and we need to do better. Our shots were not good enough and a lot were blocked or went wide. We did not make their goalkeeper work hard enough.

"His only real save was in overtime at the end of the game."

The hosts failed to make their dominance count against the only top-10 side they have beaten this season.

Huddersfield won 2-0 at St Andrew's in December to give Wagner his first win in charge but in the return match chances for Joe Lolley and Nahki Wells went begging.

Wagner said: "Our opponent sat very deep and are one of the best counter-attacking teams in the league.

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"I thought we handled that well and defensively we were solid and our reactive pressure was very good. Offensively, we need to do better.

"I am disappointed with the result but when you come back with 10 or 15 minutes left you can be satisfied.

"In the last 10 or 15 minutes everybody can see our fitness was good and we were stronger than our opponent.

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Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship between Huddersfield and Birmingham.

"We have shown a good fighting attitude."

City's assistant manager Kevin Summerfield, standing in for boss Gary Rowett who was heading off to take part in the London Marathon, questioned whether Huddersfield's equaliser was offside.

"It was touch and go," he said. "But these decisions are made in the spur of the moment."

Summerfield added: "It was a game where we needed to dig in and we looked to play on the counter attack but we did not have enough legs or quality.

"It was a set-piece that opened the door for us and Cotterill produced a great free-kick but that's what he does.

"We conceded two late goals against Preston on Tuesday and we were very disappointed with that and we changed the team."

City are at home to title challengers Middlesbrough on Friday and Summerfield said: "This is the perfect game for us and the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways.

"We have been in the top 10 all season and we are not going to sit back and roll over. We still have an awful lot to play for and we want to win games."

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