Huddersfield City 2-1 Birmingham Metropolis: Neil Warnock will get off to an ideal begin

With a beaming smile, a cheeky chuckle and a nod, Neil Warnock glanced round the principle stand earlier than kick-off as if to say, “Right here we go once more.”

Thirty years after first sitting within the dugout of his house, then on Leeds Street, Warnock is again in Huddersfield.

And 10 months after asserting his retirement from administration, his nineteenth job begins right here, a journey that started in 1980 with Gainsborough Trinity.

Many Huddersfield gamers and followers weren’t born when Warnock guided the Terriers to promotion at Wembley in 1995, however they are going to know of his legendary standing at these venues.

Warnock will additional cement his standing within the hearts of Huddersfield followers if he guides them to Championship security – they began on the twenty third and winless in 2023.

Taking his nineteenth job of his profession, Warnock was instantly given a actuality verify early on.

However their first match couldn’t have gone a lot better and, after struggling to beat Birmingham, he praised his hard-working facet for his or her efficiency of the season.

“Each one in all them did their job right now,” stated Warnock, 74. ‘A few of them have by no means labored so exhausting earlier than of their lives… now it needs to be commonplace follow.

‘(Etienne) Camara had blood on his nostril… pretty, I adore it!

It by no means leaves your bloodstream. I simply requested the gamers: “How do you are feeling after that?” That’s how I’m used to feeling!’

Patrolling his technical space in a membership tracksuit and adidas Copa Mundials, Warnock took to his new job with a few smiles and nods from the house crowd.

However his facial features quickly turned from optimistic to melancholy as he watched his subpar defenders crushed by Birmingham after simply six minutes.

It was a objective that highlighted the large activity Warnock has in maintaining Huddersfield within the division.

Nevertheless after that the Terriers had been unbelievable. Sure, they made some unforced errors and the closing levels of the match had been nervous, however this was a typical Warnock efficiency.

A banner was unfurled earlier than the match studying: “It’s important to die for 3 factors”, a nod to a Warnock catchphrase from his podcast and documentary about his time at Sheffield United.

In truth, his crew gave it their all: they ran extra, pressed higher and counterattacked with an intention not often seen this season.

Troy Deeney scored on six minutes as Birmingham took an early lead, the veteran striker latching on to the top of a Juninho Bacuna cross that evaded all defenders.

Warnock raised his fingers to his head, one of many many expressions we noticed right here, after shoddy defending that underscored why Huddersfield have misplaced a league-high 17 video games this time period.

However then they hardly seemed again, regardless of needing last-minute defending to see a mammoth 12-minute second-half stoppage time.

Camara hit the bar minutes after going from behind after which Joe Hungbo equalized after 25 minutes. The winger ran, sliced ​​inside and unleashed a toxic strike into the highest nook.

Deeney virtually restored Birmingham’s lead early within the second half when his crooked header hit the put up, however then John Eustace’s facet undid it with an extended ball.

Goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic despatched an extended ball previous the Birmingham protection and was completely managed by Jaheim Headley, who then fired into the underside nook to make it 2-1.

Huddersfield stored attacking and compelled Birmingham into a few last-minute blocks, whereas Jack Rudoni may have been awarded a penalty after Harlee Dean grabbed his legs from behind.

Troy Deeney gave Birmingham Metropolis the lead within the first six minutes, however they failed to increase their lead.

Joseph Hungbo scored the equalizer simply earlier than the half hour mark because the Warnock gamers cheered that they’ll survive this season.

Jaheim Headley’s objective simply after half time gave Huddersfield the important three factors

The consequence means Huddersfield transfer inside two factors of Rotherham in twenty first forward of an important few weeks.

Warnock admitted that he had bother remembering a few of his gamers’ names and solely took cost this week.

Birmingham started throwing males ahead searching for an equalizer when Deeney got here shut once more, however the Terriers’ Australian goalkeeper Bilokapic made some good saves, most notably to disclaim Auston Trusty’s close-range attempt.

The Blues continued their onslaught, with Warnock and his assistant Ronnie Jepson metaphorically kicking and heading each ball as Huddersfield stood tall.

Warnock, who returned early from a romantic journey to New York along with his spouse Sharon this week, admitted that he barely knew half the names of his gamers.

“He stored saying to Ronnie (Jepson, his assistant), ‘Who’s that over there, what’s his title?’ Warnock laughed. ‘We’ve an out of doors alternative to remain up, however we’ll attempt. No matter occurs, I need to have enjoyable. I need the followers to have enjoyable.”