Town return home confident they are capable of reaching Old Trafford final

The Terriers’ semi-final tie with Bournemouth is delicately poised ahead of Wednesday’s return following this draw at Dean Court that saw Kevin Kilbane’s first-half strike cancelled out by a drilled effort from Donal McDermott.

It means Town are in a similar position to last season when they went into a second leg tie against Millwall level after the first game at the Galpharm Stadium had finished goalless.

Clark’s side subsequently lost 2-0 at The Den to end any hopes of promotion but, this time around, the Huddersfield chief insists his side have what it takes to reach the May 29 final at Old Trafford.

After watching Town extend their unbeaten run to 26 games with a battling draw against the Cherries, he said: “We are a lot better qualified to finish the job this year.

“No disrespect to the lads who were involved last year (against Millwall) but if that had been the same group playing against Bournemouth then we might have been trying to get a deficit back at the Galpharm on Wednesday night.

“We have learned a lot from last year. The main thing is we don’t want to experience the losing feeling (we went through at The Den) again on Wednesday.

“I am very confident in my group of players but I am not complacent. I respect Bournemouth enormously. I always do with opponents. But I am also confident in my group of players.

“That is 26 games unbeaten now. That is an unbelievable achievement but it doesn’t make me complacent or make me think, just because we are at home, that it is a case of ‘job done’. It certainly isn’t.”

With Town now being at home, the Yorkshire side are considered by many to be favourites to progress and meet either Peterborough United or Milton Keynes Dons in the final.

Clark, however, insists: “We have never considered ourselves to be favourites. That has never been said in our dressing room or our hotel.

“We knew we were in for a very, very tough job before this game and that is still going to be the case in the second leg.“

Town were not at their best at Bournemouth but dug deep to claim a deserved draw in the Dorset sunshine.

Although on-loan Kilbane notched his third goal in Huddersfield colours, Ian Bennett proved to be the Yorkshire side’s hero with a stunning save to keep out a 36th-minute penalty by Danny Ings.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper, signed as back-up last summer by Clark, has now made 32 appearances during a campaign that has seen first-choice Alex Smithies dogged by injury problems.

In those games, the former Sheffield United and Leeds United player has impressed hugely to earn fulsome praise from his manager.

Clark said: “Ian Bennett has been outstanding all season. He has saved a few penalties for us lately. He is another who is a calming influence.

“He is 40 next birthday, though he didn’t tell me that when I was trying to sign him.

“Maybe I should have remembered playing in the same youth team with him.”

For the penalty that Ings subsequently missed, Bennett was shown a yellow card following the foul on Bournemouth left-back Rhoys Wiggins that led to referee Mick Russell pointing to the spot.

Both the home players and fans immediately implored Russell to brandish a red card but Clark said: “It doesn’t bother me either way.

“I try not to complain about referees, whether they make a decision for us or against us. The referee made the decision and that is that.

“As for the penalty itself, we have no complaints over it.”

Saturday’s 1-1 draw was the third stalemate between Town and Bournemouth this season.

In September, the two shared a 2-2 draw at the Galpharm, while February’s return on the south coast ended 1-1 thanks to a last-minute equaliser by Danny Cadamarteri.

Clark added: “Bournemouth came up to the Galpharm earlier in the season and played fantastically well.

“That is why we know this tie is far from over. They have some very good players and a very good manager.

“We have now had three games against them and all three have been very, very tight.

“I am not expecting it to be any different on Wednesday night.”

On the first-leg encounter, Clark added: “We should have been 2-0 up before they equalised. We probably had the better of 55 minutes and then Bournemouth had the rest, particularly in the second half when we couldn’t get out of our half.

“Credit to Bournemouth for that. But my team are a great bunch of lads and they showed that by digging in, even when Bournemouth were putting us under pressure.

“We didn’t give in and we didn’t wilt.

“Kevin Kilbane is someone who brings massive experience to our squad. We saw last week how important he is to us when I tried to rest him against Brentford.

“It was no coincidence that we looked a lot more solid this week at Bournemouth.”

Lee Peltier is Town’s only injury doubt ahead of the return leg in West Yorkshire after suffering a hamstring injury when trying to cross from the by-line.

He was immediately replaced by Jack Hunt and Clark said: “We will assess it, so it is far too early to make any decision over Wednesday. Hopefully, it won’t be a tear and maybe it is a nerve thing.”