THE GAME
Inigo Calderon made two enforced changes to his side as the injured duo of Chris Martin and Grant Ward made way for Promise Omochere and skipper Scott Sinclair.
However, after a scrappy opening to the game, Omochere had to leave the pitch with what looked like a recurrence of a hamstring injury, leaving Rovers light on numbers up front.
Incredibly, two minutes after his departure Rovers took the lead when Ruel Sotiriou latched on to Clinton Mola’s header forward and volleyed the ball past former Rovers custodian Lee Nicholls.Stunned into action, the visitors were soon on the offensive and looking to get back on level terms and had it not been for an incrediblle goal line clearance by Sil Swinkels, after a Dion Charles effort had ricocheted off Jed Ward, they would have done
Ward then made an outstanding save from Lasse Sorensen’s headed effort, but Rovers had chances of their own and substitute Taylor Moore forced a save from Nicholls while Sotiriou fired just wide of goal.
Sinclair also went close to scoring when, although being forced wide by Nicholls, he attempted to squeeze a shot in from a tight angle, only for the keeper to block his effort at the expense of a corner.
Huddersfield went close ten minutes into the second half, but Ward again denied Sorensen with another fine save while Callum Marshall also went close for the visitors.
Although enjoying sustained spells of possession, a frustrated Huddersfield side were unable to break down a stubborn Rovers side who displayed passion and commitment, qualities that have been sadly lacking from a number of performances this season.
Backed by a vociferous Memorial Stadium crowd, Calderon’s side grew in confidence and the Head coach gave cameo appearances to two burgeoning talents in Kofi Shaw and Ollie Dewsbury.
It was a well deserved win against a side relegated from the Championship last season and one of the favourites to make a swift return this time around.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘It was a massive, massive win. I think you could feel that. The noise and the atmosphere was great. I think everybody knew it was important to get the three points today, especially the way we did it. It’s probably not the best football we have played, but in terms of passion, it was crazy today and the way the team performed. I am really, really proud of them.
‘It was in a moment that I couldn’t see that happening, to be fair. It was not coming. I don’t think we started too good. That’s a fact. I don’t think we were great at that time. So, sometimes you find a way, and Ruel has been really good there, and not just because of the goal, the effort is outstanding. I’m so pleased for him because he’s working hard, and that helped the team, and that’s what we need.
‘In the second half, I think we were stronger and looked stronger in terms of not conceding too many chances. In the first half, I was not too happy. I think we were a bit negative in the way we were playing and defending, but I think in the second half, we were really good. I was nervous because you want to win but I couldn’t see that coming. So, that’s a credit to the boys for keeping the clean sheet.’ (Rovers Head Coach Inigo Calderon)
‘It was a big win. Obviously coming and seeing other results as well, it was a massive win. I started in midfield, and unfortunately, Promise got injured. I’m gutted for him, and we won that game today for him because he’s been out for a while. He’s done his rehab, he’s a good professional, and to see him come off hurt a lot, to be honest. I went up top, and then I tried my best with Scott Sinclair and getting a goal is always good.
Inigio Calderon has given me a confidence boost. There are no individuals here, and we know the target for the rest of the season. Everyone just knows we just need to win. It doesn’t matter who scores. It’s about keeping this football club in this league, and he can have a pre-season so we can kick on.
‘I see Ollie Dewsbury and Kofi Shaw coming on, and it just brings a smile to your face. These young kids fight for the club, and they deserve it. Ollie made his league debut today, so congratulations to him and Kofi putting a shift in. He deserves to get his chance.
We’ve got three good centre backs available, and I feel like they’ve been solid for most of the season, and we’ve left them exposed a lot. It wasn’t, really free flowing attacking football; it was more like counter. But we won so, it doesn’t really matter how we played.’ (Rovers striker Ruel Sotiriou)
‘I’m so proud. I’ve been coming to the games. I’ve been here since I was six. I love the club, and it’s amazing to feel what it’s like on the pitch instead of in the stands. It was emotional for me, but I really enjoyed it. I’ve got to get my head back down now and focus on training next week and see if I can start doing this more regularly.’ (Rovers debut striker Ollie Dewsbury)
‘I thought the first half an hour we were excellent. Probably we should have scored two or three goals. It’s another away game where the opposition have dome absolutely nothing to score a goal. It puts us on the back foot, then we panic and come off script.’ (Huddersfield Head Coach Michael Duff)
