Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town: Lillis plans to be steady hand on Town tiller

The Terriers travel to Cardiff City today on the back of a heartening Capital One Cup victory in midweek at Chesterfield.

Showing the character and resilience that had been notably absent in the opening-day thrashing by Bournemouth that led to Mark Robins’s departure, Town hit back from 2-0 and 3-1 down to triumph after extra-time.

Lillis, in his second temporary spell at the helm, is calling for more of the same in back-to-back games at Cardiff and Reading. He said: “I have been here two and a half years as Academy manager so I know a lot of the players well.

“So, I sat down and had one-on-one chats with the new lads that have come in. I have got to know them quickly on a personal level, which is important.

“That is the way I am, I get right in amongst it. I will be caretaker manager for as long as it takes. I will treat players properly. We all got stuck in and we’re preparing for what is a massive game for us at Cardiff.”

Town will once again be without last season’s top scorer, James Vaughan, in South Wales.

Jon Stead was hugely impressive in the win at Chesterfield but he may step down today as the Terriers look to combat a Cardiff outfit that will be desperate to make a statement of intent following last season’s relegation.

A positive result will give the Huddersfield board time in their quest for a new manager. Asked if he wanted the role on a permanent basis, Lillis said: “No. I have been asked to take Saturday and Tuesday and then I will speak with the chairman. The process of appointing a new manager is down to the board but, in the interim, I will steady the ship.”