David Wagner and Carlos Carvalhal both feeling positive ahead of Hillsborough showdown

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN head coach David Wagner insists it remains very much 'game on' ahead of his side's Championship play-off semi-final second leg at Sheffield Wednesday despite the Terriers drawing a blank in a frustrating 0-0 draw yesterday.
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner and his Sheffield Wednesday counterpart Carlos Carvalhal shake hands prior to kick-off yesterday at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Thompson/PA Wire).Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner and his Sheffield Wednesday counterpart Carlos Carvalhal shake hands prior to kick-off yesterday at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Thompson/PA Wire).
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner and his Sheffield Wednesday counterpart Carlos Carvalhal shake hands prior to kick-off yesterday at John Smith's Stadium (Picture: Dave Thompson/PA Wire).

The first instalment of the all-Yorkshire semi-final proved a cagey affair, with the conservative tactics employed by Carlos Carvalhal’s visitors paying off by way of a solid clean sheet, putting the Owls in the driving seat ahead of the pivotal second game on Wednesday evening.

Despite seeing his side fail to win at home for a third successive match, head coach Wagner said he was enthused by his side’s positive performance, with the only thing lacking being a goal.

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Defiantly talking up Town’s chances, Wagner, yet to taste victory over Wednesday in his time as head coach, said: “For us, it is game on. It was a very good performance from our side and I think we dominated them.

“It is in our hands and we have a real chance.

“The pressure is on Wednesday since they are in the play-offs and everyone knows who is the favourite and who is the underdog.

“Performance-wise, we showed we are competitive and it is a good feeling for us. Nil-nil at ‘half-time’; we will be ready for Wednesday.”

For Carvalhal, it was very much a case of mission accomplished and while his side’s performance was not particularly pleasing on the eye, it produced a result of substance with the Owls now favourites to finish off the job back at Hillsborough.

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Carvalhal, who said that he expects Sam Hutchinson to be available on Wednesday after missing the first leg due to stiffness in his knee, added: “There were two words we repeated in the pre-match and they were focus and efficiency. We came here to make the second game alive.

“If you speak to all the teams in these kind of situations in the semi-finals when they play away and then can play at home with a 0-0 or a draw, you can say that is very positive.”