Chris Powell salutes Emyr Huws after fourth goal in three Huddersfield games
Friday 25 September 2015 07:42, UK
Huddersfield manager Chris Powell saluted midfielder Emyr Huws whose fourth goal in three games rescued a point for his side in a 1-1 home draw with Sky Bet Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
Wales international Huws, on a season-long loan deal from Wigan, struck a long-range equaliser for Town in the 84th minute, thanks to a heavy deflection, to cancel out Ryan Mendes' first-half opener for Forest.
Huws scored his first goal for Huddersfield in the recent victory at Charlton and fired two more in last week's home win against Bolton.
When asked about Huws' impact since arriving in late August, Powell said: "It's self-explanatory really with his name up in lights not once, not twice, but four times and he's still working his way to fitness.
"When a new player joins a club, whether on loan or permanently, you want to make your mark early - and I think he's done that."
Powell also had praise for skipper Dean Whitehead after his side collected their seventh point from their last three matches.
"Dean Whitehead has been imperious for us in this run and even before that," Powell added. "He's leading by example and allowing our players to really express themselves.
"Emyr has benefited from that and if we can get him on the ball more he can come up with, not only crosses and passes, but goals like this evening."
Huddersfield struggled for fluency against Forest's resolute defence and could have gone further behind when visiting substitute Chris Burke hit the post 90 seconds after replacing Jamie Ward in the second half.
"To be honest Forest defended manfully, they really did," Powell added. "You think maybe it's not going to be your night, a couple of times we were in good areas to get a good ball in and when we did Forest's defenders were there and you just thought it may not happen.
"But you've got to persevere and we got our reward for that in the end."
Forest boss Dougie Freedman was disappointed to concede a late equaliser, but was encouraged by most of what he saw from his side and believes they will only get better.
"Apart from the first 15 minutes when Huddersfield gave it a right good go, we looked to control the game through our defending, which was fantastic," the Scot said.
"Our midfield three, their defending and the way they passed the ball was great and we created enough chances, especially in the second half with Burke's one-on-one, to have won the game but for a wicked deflection.
"So we pick up a point, which is disappointing, but from a performance point of view, I only put that team together in the last couple of weeks, I've got to be careful what I say.
"We're playing very well, we look a decent side in the Championship and we're only going to get to know each other better."
