Huddersfield Town v Luton: Liam Manning on what Terriers must avoid between now and end of League One season

His opening game in charge against derby rivals Bradford City certainly couldn't have gone much better on Saturday, with sixth-placed Town affording themselves their most cherished memory of a testing season so far and best and most important result, for sure.

His players are now assigned with producing an encore at the Accu Stadium against the side just below them in Luton tonight.

For his part, Manning - who refused to rule out a top-two tilt at his press unveiling - sees nothing wrong with expectation both internally and from supporters. It's up to him and his players to deal with it.

He said: "No one wants me to come in here and squash ambition and dreams. I think you'd be mad to do that. Of course, we also have to understand how do we do (handle) that.

"That's for me (and) where I chunk it up. Eighteen games is too far away to put targets and projections in. But we have to concentrate on getting it right (on match-day).

"Otherwise, where we're at in 18 games won't be where we want it.

“When we're at the end of the season, look back and make sure we have no regrets on what we did in the games that we had."

For Manning, the perils of an 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' type performance is something he is conscious of avoiding against the Hatters.

While the history books will denote a 1-0 win against the Bantams, Huddersfield's dominance was deserving of a more emphatic margin of victory. The post-match feeling of exhilaration remained strong according to Town chief – and also addictive.

He continued: "Pretty much the message for the lads is: 'let's not just turn up for one game, let's do it over and over again'. I said to the lads that it's almost like a drug. "I know I showed a bit of emotion (on Saturday). I thought a lot of the lads on the pitch did as well.

“I think it showed to everybody what it meant to win that game. That's a powerful thing that we want to try and replicate and almost become addicted to. "We need to earn credit with the fans by showing those behaviours, doing the bits that we showed at the weekend and then what you hope then is once you've earned enough credit when you do have a tough time, the fans will stick with us and get us through it - because it will happen."

After avenging their defeat in Bradford in the reverse fixture, Town - who will be without the suspended Marcus McGuane - now have the chance to settle a score following another tough away result at Kenilworth Road, where they lost in late November.

Captain Ryan Ledson said: "We have, yes. That was another tough one to take, getting beaten 2-1 at another tough place to go.

"They are another good side in this league and find themselves outside of the play-offs and I am sure they will think they should be higher in the league as well.

"It's a tough league. But when we play at our best like on Saturday, we are a match for anyone."

Loanee Cameron Humphreys is the favourite to replace McGuane this evening.