Town will be different proposition in play-offs this time

PETER CLARKE insists Huddersfield Town are much better equipped to win the play-offs than 12 months ago.

Town are through to the end-of-season promotion deciders for the second consecutive year and face Bournemouth at Dean Court on Saturday in a semi-final first leg tie.

It was at the same stage last term that Town’s hopes of reaching the Championship were dashed when Millwall triumphed 2-0 on aggregate against Lee Clark’s side.

The first leg at the Galpharm finished goalless but the initimidating atmosphere at The Den proved too much for Huddersfield.

Clark’s response was to target experience last summer in the transfer market, a move that has paid off with Town finishing third with 87 points – a tally that would usually be enough to clinch a place in the top two.

Instead, the consistency shown by champions Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton means it is the play-offs once again.

Clarke, a veteran of last season’s play-off heartache, said: “I think we are better equipped this season.

“The players that the manager has brought in are fantastic individuals to have in the dressing room. They are great to have out on the pitch and they bring a lot of experience.

“In tight games, some of the lads brought in have used their experience from games at a far higher magnitude to help us through. That bodes well for the play-off games.

“Hopefully, no one will be fazed by the play-off games – as maybe happened last season down at Millwall.”

Town’s play-off defeat last season came as a bitter blow, especially as Clark’s men had gone into the final day of the regular season still in with a chance of claiming automatic promotion.

A 2-1 defeat at Exeter City ended those hopes, ensuring Huddersfield finished sixth and had to face Millwall over two legs.

Captain Clarke said: “The first leg at Huddersfield was a tight affair and there wasn’t much in it.

“But, down there, we didn’t really perform. Going to a place like Millwall is never easy. They are notorious fans, who shout and abuse you from the moment you arrive.

“From a personal point of view, I don’t mind that. If anything, I found it amusing.

“My attitude was, ‘We’ll show you’. But, maybe on the evening, it got to one or two of the younger members.

“Now, though, the manager has brought in players who have played in front of a hostile atmosphere far and above that.”

Unlike 12 months ago, Town will go into Saturday’s first leg at Dean Court in confident mood after extending their unbeaten league run to 25 games with a 4-4 draw against Brentford last weekend.

Huddersfield have, in fact, not lost since December 28 when the trip to Southampton ended in a 4-1 reverse.

Clarke added: “When we go out, we are of the mindset that we can win every game. It is a belief we have. That is a good habit to be in.

“I think we have shown several times this season that we don’t know when we are beaten. With that, we have picked up points that, maybe 12 months ago, we wouldnt’ have.

“Come the play-offs, though, they are two very different games. But we will go into them well prepared and looking to get the right result.”

If Town can get past Bournemouth, a May 29 trip to Old Trafford awaits and a meeting with either Peterborough United or Milton Keynes Dons.

The home of Manchester United is being used due to Wembley staging the Champions League final the previous night, meaning Huddersfield would, thanks to their near proximity and size of support, take tens of thousands of supporters across the Pennines.

It also means that Clarke could be holding up the League One play-off winners’ trophy in front of a sea of white and blue. But Clarke is not allowing his thoughts to stray that far ahead.

“No, not at all,” was the Terriers captain’s response when asked if the prospect had entered his mind. “It is one game at a time and no one at this club will get ahead of themselves because that is when you come unstuck.”

Of their fellow play-off contenders, manager Clark said: “I had no preference. They have all got good players, they have all got good management teams and whoever we play it will be a tough game over two legs. We need to be right at it.

“I don’t know how key momentum is going into the play-offs – I’ll tell you a week on Wednesday night but an unbeaten run like the one we have been on instils confidence without being complacent so we go from there.”