Fired up for a scrap with Terriers

DESPITE losing 5-1, the FA Cup third-round game at Liverpool was an important learning curve for the players but also further demonstration of how far we have come.

I keep telling manager Paul Dickov that since our arrival at the club in the summer of 2010, we have probably achieved more than many people — apart from ourselves — expected.

Whether he listens to me or not is another matter! Sometimes it is easy to forget about the progress made because we are so busy striving to improve despite being limited in what we can do.

At Anfield, we created a few chances before going ahead through the goal of the game — a wonderful strike from Robbie Simpson.

But I believe the players broke one of the golden rules of football by over-celebrating and, seconds later, the hosts equalised, albeit through a lucky deflection.

It was a touch of naivety, which is understandable considering the occasion.

In any match you are at your most vulnerable after scoring a goal, let alone when you are up against top-flight players.

I feel we were in the contest until Liverpool’s third goal.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and we couldn’t get back into it.

A lot of people suggested the scoreline flattered the five-times European champions but that is neither here nor there as far as I am concerned.

We are out of the competition and have to move on.

The players were disappointed at the manner of the defeat and the goals conceded, because we were never really torn apart.

But it has not been difficult picking them up for tomorrow’s trip to Huddersfield in npower League One.

To go from one big game into another is probably just what the lads need, and our 1-1 draw at Charlton demonstrated our ability to mix it with the high-flyers away from home.

We know it is going to be difficult because Lee Clark’s Terriers are chasing promotion, and their striker Jordan Rhodes is in superb form at the moment.

Any team which stops Rhodes has certainly done a good defensive job.

We head to Chesterfield on Tuesday for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area final first leg.

There is no desire on our part to go there looking for a draw. Even though I was a defender, I am not in favour of overly-cautious formations.

That sort of approach smells of negativity and invites pressure — we always look to win.