Huddersfield 1-0 Wolves: David Wagner and Kenny Jackett reaction
Saturday 20 February 2016 20:35, UK
David Wagner praised Nahki Wells's mental strength after Huddersfield's hard fought 1-0 victory over Wolves.
Wells squandered a great chance to score with the game still goalless but kept his head to grab the winner 11 minutes from time, his third in four matches.
"Nahki Wells has a strong mentality and I believe in his ability to score goals," Wagner said. "He knows he will always get chances in this team and stayed focused after missing one."
The win meant back-to-back victories for the first time under Wagner, who said: "Everyone can be very proud of this performance.
"Wolves made it very difficult for us, it was very tight and there wasn't much space but there was lots of hard work and we never gave up.
"It is easy to play football if you are creating chances and scoring goals but when it is really tight you have to concentrate."
Jamie Paterson hit the foot of the post for Huddersfield in the first half and Tommy Rowe went closest for Wolves before the break, pulling his shot wide.
Wells should have scored in the 64th minute when Danny Batth failed to cut out James Husband's cross but the striker mis-controlled and the chance was lost.
Joe Mason had the ball in the net for Wolves in the 72nd minute but it was ruled out for off-side, leaving the way clear for Wells to grab the glory in the 79th minute.
Harry Bunn, Karim Matmour and Elvis Manu were involved in the build up before Husband whipped in a cross for Wells to fire home from 10 yards.
Wagner was as pleased with successive clean sheets as he was with the victories.
"It was important to keep a clean sheet as that always gave us a chance," Wagner added. "The players are adapting to our system and it takes time. We need to give time to the players to get used to our ideas and structure.
"For now the table is absolutely unimportant. My focus is on the performance. We are still developing."
It is six matches without a win now for Wolves, and boss Kenny Jackett said: "I felt it was a battle and a scrappy game.
"Huddersfield defended well but in the second half we got on top of them physically.
"Nahki Wells is a goal scorer and he put his opportunity away and their keeper made a couple of good saves.
"I don't think we deserved to lose but we did and results are the bottom line. We lost what was a very tight game but the players have shown effort and commitment.
"Of course we want to be winning games and this is a results business and we have lost a close battle and a scrap.
"In the second half I thought we were the most likely team to win but in the end it's gone against us."
