Huddersfield sack manager Lee Grant following resounding defeat at Burton

Huddersfield have sacked manager Lee Grant following their resounding 3-1 defeat at Burton.

The visitors fell behind after only four minutes when Terence Vancooten headed home from Dylan Williams’ free-kick and, although Alfie May equalised midway through the first period, Albion hit back in the second half with clinical strikes from Jake Beesley and substitute JJ McKiernan.

The defeat extended Huddersfield’s poor run, with just three wins from their last 12 League One games, and, despite his side lying sixth in the table, Grant has paid the price, eight months after his appointment.

Huddersfield owner and chairman Kevin Nagle said: “Entering this season with renewed optimism and hope having proactively reshaped our first team throughout the summer, we were clear about not only our ambitions, but how we wanted to achieve them and the type of team on the pitch we wanted to enjoy alongside our supporters.

“Sadly, on current form, none of those objectives are being met and, with just under half of the season remaining, we feel no other option but to make a change to put the side back on track.

“I would like to thank Lee for his efforts and wish him nothing but the best for his future career. Our previously stated aims and desires for the season remain the same and we will be making a change with those ambitions still firmly in mind.”

Sporting director Chris Markham will lead the recruitment process to appoint a successor.

Speaking after Saturday’s game, Grant questioned his side’s spirit.

“We created moments today, but we didn’t take them,” he said.

“There has to be more from within – spirit, collective energy and character to go and take that game and put a side that we know we can be better than to the sword.

“For me it comes down to the fight and the duels. Winning the second balls and the spirit, and if we don’t get that right any game can be difficult and today is a case in point.

“There isn’t enough collective will and intent from within and that’s not good enough for the stage we are in.

“I look at Burton and they stayed together. They showed character and belief despite us dominating the ball and they stayed ready for their big moments and took them.”

Burton head coach Gary Bowyer praised his side’s psychological strength as they got back to winning ways.

“We started the game very well,” said Bowyer. “We work hard on set-pieces and we have challenged the players to score more of them. It played a massive part in keeping us up last year and got us off to a great start today.”

After going into half-time level following May’s equaliser, Huddersfield began the second half the stronger but had no response once Beesley thundered home his eighth of the season.

“We asked them to be more aggressive in the second half and to show a bit more quality in the final third and they went out and did that,” Bowyer added.