Huddersfield Town v Brighton & HA: Town chief Clark relishing festive challenge

The Terriers host League One leaders Brighton & Hove Albion today to begin a run of games that include meetings with sides sitting fourth, seventh and eighth in the table.

With fifth-placed Town desperate to win automatic promotion this season, clearly the next three weeks or so are likely to have a huge bearing on their prospects.

Clark said: "We have got a great month coming up, with fixtures against teams right up there.

"Brentford are starting to put a run together, Hartlepool have a very experienced manager and are holding their own and then we have Southampton, who will be up there come the end of the season.

"Then it is Carlisle, who are doing brilliantly again and just one step away from a Wembley final. Sheffield Wednesday follow after that and that run of games excites everyone."

Town trail Gus Poyet's Brighton by seven points and Clark took the chance to watch the Seagulls in action during their midweek FA Cup second round replay win over FC United at Gigg Lane.

The Town manager said: "Gus was a fabulous player. I obviously lined up against him on more than one occasion when he was at Chelsea and Tottenham.

"He was fantastic and one of the foreign players who took the English game on to another level by buying into the British mentality of the work ethic.

"He has obviously carried that into his team and is making Brighton formidable opponents."

Brighton have lost just twice in 18 league outings this season to set the pace at the top of League One.

On the midweek win over FC United, Clark said: "Gus has them playing very attractive football in a different system to a lot of teams. I am looking forward to the game as Brighton will come and take us on, which is a good thing for my lads.

"So many teams come here and try to suffocate us. My lads are right up for it.

"Their top scorer is (Inigo) Calderon, the right-back, so that says a lot about what they are all about.

"Brighton like to play the ball out on the floor right from their goalkeeper whenever they possible can and they rotate a lot in the middle of the pitch, too.

"They pass the ball for fun but we know what to expect."