Wolves v Huddersfield Town: Terriers target instant response to mauling

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ home was where Bradford City, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United clinched promotions in 1999, 1992 and 1989 respectively and it is where Huddersfield Town will be aiming for their own sweet moment this evening.

Victory tonight would not be the catalyst for a champagne-soaked celebration for Town.

But there would be a palpable sense of pride if the club complete a remarkable achievement in clinching a historic first place in the Championship play-offs in what has been an extraordinary campaign.

The Midlands stadium has certainly been a happy hunting ground for Town in modern times – their defeat there last season was the club’s first reverse in nine matches in this corner of the Black Country.

But a win this evening would carry far more significance than just three points.

In a season when Huddersfield have been out of the top six for just a week, in early December, success would seal the deal and bear testament to their impressive consistency.

For head coach David Wagner, whose standards are demanding and high, it would also make amends for the implosion at home to Fulham on Saturday, with the London club running riot in a ruthless first half en route to a 4-1 triumph on an afternoon when a home win would have seen Town book a top-six berth.

Wagner, keen for his side not to pass up a second chance tonight, said: “We have had only one time when we were not in the top six all season. It is unbelievable consistency and over-performance.

“But now we want to get over the line, so we have a few more games after May 7.

“If you see the top ten of the Championship and see all the names, then you think that the one name which is not the right one in this are Huddersfield. Everybody else, you think they may have the financial power and club size to expect them to be there.

“But we have shown that there is no rule over who has the right. You only have to work hard, find solutions and different ways and that is what we have done.

“It has been a consistent journey. That is what makes me happy so far and says everything. Now, we have the chance to bring it over the line on one side. But it is more important to correct what we did on Saturday when we were far away from our best.”

Saturday’s punishing defeat represented a second comprehensive loss to Fulham this term, with memories of the heavy 4-0 defeat at Bristol City on March 17 also fresh in the minds of fans.

Despite those results, Wagner is at least safe in the knowledge that Huddersfield have generally reacted well to bumps in the road during their Championship journey, with a strong dressing room having successfully closed ranks and delivered a meaningful response on several occasions.

Seeking a similar reprise tonight, the German, mulling over whether to start fit-again Izzy Brown from the off, added: “I have no question mark about the character of this dressing room. I know after nearly one year about the character of every single player and I know that they would like to really show a reaction.

“Our achievement so far is incredible; unbelievable. No one can find real explanations why we are in this position.

“But we know these explanations and have done a lot of things right and have unbelievable togetherness in the dressing room that you maybe find only once in your career. This is the reason why the team have overachieved and overperformed consistently.”

Adamant he has no issues with Town’s recent form ahead of any play-off qualification, with his side having lost four of their last seven games, Wagner said: “It is not the most important thing because the play-offs is a completely different competition. Everything starts at zero.

“This is why we have only to be focused on the present and what it is in front of us and this is our main and only focus, to be fair.”

Town face a Wolves side who have endured peaks and troughs this season, although their recent Easter Monday victory at Leeds serves as a salutary warning of the Midlands club’s credentials.

Wolves were also very unfortunate not to go away from Sheffield Wednesday with three points in early January and Wagner is not treating them lightly, even though the hosts have little to play for on paper tonight other than pride.

He added: “We have a real target to play for. But Wolves do as well, they are playing for three points and will not give us any presents.

“We have to be at our best to be successful and then we do not have to look to the right or left or in front or behind.”

Last six games: Wolves WWLLWD Huddersfield LWLWDL.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).

Last time: Wolves 3 Huddersfield 0; October 3, 2015; Championship.