Huddersfield Town aiming to silence Sheffield Wednesday fans in Hillsborough showdown

The Terriers make the short trip to South Yorkshire on level terms with Carlos Carvalhal’s side following a goalless first leg at the John Smith’s Stadium.

In the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s derby, several in the Wednesday camp voiced their belief that a sold-out 32,600 crowd at the return is capable of making all the difference in securing a trip to Wembley.

Wagner, however, believes the opposite could be true as the Terriers look to keep alive their own hopes of a top-flight return after 45 years away.

“How the game goes will decide how the atmosphere is,” said the German to The Yorkshire Post.

“If we score first, it can change the atmosphere. We have seen that this season when away at Newcastle and Leeds (games that Town won).

“We have some experience of the crowd being ‘on’ at the beginning. But, because of our style, our ball possession and always being a threat, we can silence the fans and calm them down.

“Also, as the home team you can feel a lot of pressure. The supporters will not be happy and that can have a negative influence on you as a home team.”

Wednesday took a giant step towards reaching Wembley in the play-offs a year ago amid a frenetic atmosphere in S6 against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Carvalhal’s men triumphed 2-0 on the night in the first leg and defender Tom Lees later joked how the fans in the South Stand had been jumping up and down so heartily that the floodlights were swaying.

A repeat tomorrow night will be Carvalhal’s order of the night for the home fans, though Wagner believes the 2,000 strong visitors’ contingent will be the ones cheering come the final whistle.

“It wasn’t a dream result for us on Sunday, but it gives us every opportunity,” added the 45-year-old. “All options are open and we are totally in the race. We are 0-0 at ‘half-time’, and we put in a strong performance.

“I am totally sure we can take confidence from that. A performance like that makes the chest (of a player) bigger when we go into the second leg at Hillsborough. We have every reason to be excited for the re-match.”

Town last competed in the top flight during the 1971-72 season. Before Sunday’s first leg, Wagner showed his squad a giant photograph of Ian Greaves’s side as inspiration for the battle that lay ahead.

“It was to help them visualise how long ago it was that this football club was in the top division,” he added. “They agreed it is time to write a new chapter for this football club.”

Asked if he had a similar motivational tool in mind for the return leg, Wagner replied: “I will tell you what I do if we are successful.”

Danny Ward, despite missing training yesterday through illness, is expected to return in goal after being suspended for Sunday’s first leg.

Otherwise, Wagner is likely to stick with the same starting XI for a fixture that, judging by how tight all three previous meetings this term have been, could go to extra-time or even penalties.

Town have not had too many opportunities to practise from 12 yards, the Yorkshire club having been awarded just four this season.

In contrast, Reading and Fulham – who meet tonight at the Madejski Stadium with their own tie level at 1-1 – have had 12 and 11 penalties respectively in 2016-17. Wednesday, meanwhile, have netted five from seven spot-kicks.

Despite that, and Huddersfield managing to miss half of those four penalties, Wagner insists he is not worried about the all-Yorkshire tie possibly being settled in a shoot-out.

“We have enough Germans in our team and everyone knows Germans are able to win penalty shoot-outs,” joked the Terriers’ head coach, on the bench as Schalke won the UEFA Cup in 1997 by holding their nerve in a shoot-out.

“No, seriously, if it does happen, we will take it. If not and we can decide it earlier, we would prefer that.

“But we will be prepared for everything. If extra time, we will be there. If it is a penalty shoot-out, we will be there. If it is 90 minutes, we will be there as well.”

Chris Lowe and Aaron Mooy successfully converted from the spot for Town this season, while Rajiv van La Parra and Mooy were the ones to have efforts saved.

Asked if he knew already the identity of Huddersfield’s penalty-takers if tomorrow’s tie goes to a shoot-out, Wagner replied: “No, because I do not know who will be on the pitch if it goes to a penalty shoot-out.

“This is a decision that can only be made when the situation happens.

“Plus, in my opinion, you cannot practise penalty shoot-outs. The atmosphere is totally different. But we are pretty confident that we are able to put the ball in the net from 12 yards.”