Feuding Leeds United and Huddersfield Town bosses now stand shoulder to shoulder over immediate aims

'I have moved on and I have said what I needed to say to the club,' was Leeds United boss Monk's response to an enquiry about the ugly scenes that led to both clubs being charged by the Football Association along with their head coaches. 'I am very focused on the football and the next game coming up.'

His Town counterpart Wagner, hit with two charges of misconduct that he has until 6pm today to answer, was equally adamant that his thoughts were firmly on football as Huddersfield head to the capital eyeing a fourth straight Championship win.

'I don't like to think about it,' said the Terriers' chief when asked if he was expecting a ban. 'It wastes my energy.'

The duo's desire to move on is understandable. Not only did the scenes towards the end of Town's 2-1 victory do neither club any favours, but tomorrow offers the opportunity to claim a valuable three points in the race for the Premier League.

For Town, that means a trip to QPR and a meeting with a manager who tipped the Yorkshire club for relegation before a ball had been kicked this season. Leeds, meanwhile, welcome Cardiff City '“ managed by Neil Warnock '“ to Elland Road for what seems certain to be another pulsating game.

'We are always disappointed to lose a game,' said Monk ahead of taking on the Bluebirds. 'But what is very important is you move forward quickly in this league.

'We know what we did well and what we need to improve on. We look to put that into the next game and bounce back, as we have many times this season.

'In seven out of nine (games following a defeat), we have bounced back straight away with a win. We have to make it eight out of 10. That has been our mentality all season. The group takes this on board very, very well and it has been a very good week's training.

'Cardiff will be tough to beat. Neil has them very well structured and drilled. Plus, he is an ex-manager (of Leeds), he is very experienced and he will want to come here and do well.

'They can be very tough to play against, but we have been preparing for the situation we think we will face. Our main focus has to be our own improvements on the pitch.'

United host Cardiff tomorrow on the back of a fine recent run on home soil. Six straight wins is impressive enough, but factor in the fact Rob Green has kept a clean sheet in every one of those and it means more than nine and a half hours' play since Leeds last conceded in front of their own fans.

'We are proud of that record because we know how hard it is to keep that level of results going,' added Monk, whose defence was last breached on home soil by Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle on November 20.

'This is a very, very competitive league and it is small margins that often settle games. I said after Huddersfield, we are in a good position and the players have the mentality and attitude to keep trying to improve.'

Asked if he had a possible points target in mind that would guarantee a play-off place, Monk replied: 'No, we have not got the calculator out yet. We have to focus game by game.

'I am sure with six or seven games to go, we can start to work out the maths. But, until that point, we remain focused on the next game, and that next game is Cardiff.'

Thanks to completing the league double over their neighbours, Huddersfield sit one place and one point above Monk's men in the table. The Terriers have also played a game fewer.

Confidence is high after not only the win over Leeds but also the footballing masterclass that proved too much for then leaders Brighton & Hove Albion in Town's previous outing.

Kasey Palmer will be absent from the trip to West London with a hamstring injury that could keep the Chelsea loanee out for two months. He will miss an opportunity to underline to Holloway just how badly he got it wrong by predicting at the start of last August that the West Yorkshire club would be relegated.

'I have not met (Holloway) but I heard a few sentences from him,' smiled Wagner yesterday when asked about the Rangers' chief and his pre-season take on Town's prospects.

'With the last result, we avoided relegation so best regards to him. No, seriously, if you have an opinion then if you get asked then you have to be strong enough to say it, and have the personality to say why you think that opinion.

'In the job he had (with Sky Sports) at the time, he had to give his predictions about where the teams would be at the end of the season. That was part of his job. Obviously, he was not right, but now he is manager of Queens Park Rangers.'

Pressed on whether he planned to remind Holloway of his dismissive words about Huddersfield, the German smiled again before replying: 'No. But maybe (I will) with my players.'