Lee Grant applauds Huddersfield’s focus in victory at Reading

New Huddersfield manager Lee Grant praised his players’ “laser focus” in their hard-earned 2-0 victory at Reading in League One.

Second-half goals from defender Jack Whatmough and substitute Cameron Ashia secured Town’s second successive win of the season.

And Grant, who was appointed Town boss in May, was pleased his side had taken on board his instructions as they backed up their 3-0 victory over Leyton Orient last weekend.

“Before the game, we asked for two or three things specifically,” Grant said. “I thought that the guys delivered to me in spades.

“We knew that, as the first home game for Reading, all the energy, enthusiasm and incentive that would bring to them.

“It meant that there would be spells where we would have to manage the game and show our character. When we would have to try to stay calm and composed.

“We’d have to be laser focused in those moments and I thought that we had a few really good examples of that. That was really pleasing.

“In terms of an away performance in general, there was a lot to like.

“Of course, there is still loads more to improve on as well. But to win the game and with another clean sheet, that was also really pleasing.

“We made three changes today but there was no way that some in the group were maybe feeling sorry for themselves or wondering why they were not selected.

“We just don’t have that. For me, that is perfect.

“We know that we’ve got good depth in the players from top to bottom. So we want to be able to use that, it gives us good choices and good options.”

Reading have now lost both games 2-0 this season.

Royals manager Noel Hunt said: “It was a game of moments. I thought that we looked better than last week (in the defeat to Lincoln).

“We looked more together and more in sync. Our energy was good.

“But in a game of those moments, we should score down one end with a free header and then, a minute later, we conceded.

“We’re really disappointed with how we conceded because we’ve been really good from set plays recently and over the last five or six months.

“It’s just a little lesson for our new boys who’ve come in – how we do things, make sure that we stick to the structure.

“I’m disappointed with the result but, from building where we’ve come from over the past few weeks and with the boys starting to get together, I thought that it was much better.

“We’re a young side and we sometimes have to force the issue a bit. We’re trying to get messages to them about how we do that.

“We just have to keep the same belief that we have. We can’t let this rock us.”