Thursday 10 May 2018 08:08, UK
Huddersfield securing Premier League survival is a "phenomenal achievement", says former Terriers manager Chris Powell.
David Wagner's side went into Wednesday's game at Stamford Bridge knowing a point would be enough to seal their place in the competition next season, and they got the result they needed with a 1-1 draw.
Powell took charge of the side for just over a year between 2014 and 2015, and hailed the performance of Huddersfield this season, as well as that of fellow-promoted sides Brighton and Newcastle.
"It's a phenomenal achievement," he told Sky Sports. "Not only for Huddersfield, I think we should talk about what Brighton and Newcastle have done because all three teams have survived which is unheard of.
"It's been harder for Huddersfield but it's been brilliant. They've had a really up and down season, but they bounced back and that's key. They always got a result when they needed one and for a side that doesn't score too many goals away, they had some huge results.
"To come here under that amount of pressure, and Chelsea needed a result too, they didn't just go through the motions, and they got a point. It's amazing.
"It's wonderful what they've achieved this year. So many people had written them off before a ball was kicked and when you looked at the last three games, you wanted them to be away from the danger area.
"But for them to not only go to Manchester City and not concede plus get a point, and to come here tonight when Chelsea needed something as well, it is monumental and a wonderful achievement for a club I know well - it will galvanise the area. The players are heroes and it's a wonderful achievement."
Goalkeeper Jonas Lossl picked up the man-of-the-match award and produced a superb fingertip save in the 83rd minute to keep out a header from Andres Christensen, which Powell identified as a huge moment in Huddersfield's season.
"Their win tonight and their season was down to Lossl's save," the current Southend United manager added.
"That was it, that was the moment. It was a huge save for them because if they had lost tonight going into the Arsenal game, that would have been really tough."
