‘A step in the right direction’

It’s squeaky bum time: It was a strange Easter weekend in the

with Newcastle United, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United - and to a lesser extent Reading and Sheffield Wednesday - all doing their best to slip up in the run-in. Newcastle’s loss to Ipswich could have opened the door for the chasing pack, but both Town and Leeds could not secure a victory to pile more pressure on Rafa Benitez’s side.

What the weekend has proven is that any of the second to seventh placed sides can lose any match and there will still be a few twists and turns before the regular season ends. It’s time to forget about automatic promotion:

Although Town are still mathematically in with a shot at automatic promotion - and they bettered second-placed Newcastle’s score this weekend - three points were needed at Pride Park to really keep the top two dream alive. The Terriers are seven points behind the Magpies with one match in hand, but with only four to play it is looking increasingly likely that the Toon will bounce straight back up to the top tier. Now is the time for David Wagner and his men to secure play-off football before resting the key players so they are in prime condition for the postseason. Collin Quaner is hitting form:

One player not to rest is Collin Quaner. The big German forward struggled early in his Town career, but has now found the net in his last two matches and will want to keep building on his form and confidence in the run-in. If Quaner can bag a couple more in Town’s last four outings, his confidence will be sky-high going into the play-offs - should Town get there. Winning has become the norm:

Although fans were unhappy with a draw yesterday after a defensive display from their side, the point still handed Town their first four-point league haul over Derby in a season since 1983/84. Let’s stay positive and remember that nobody - not even Wagner - would have predicted Town to go unbeaten against Derby at the start of the season. Town must not lose on Saturday:

Saturday’s match against Fulham is significant because of the points on offer, but also because of the psychological effect a defeat could have on both sides. If Town are beaten, the Cottagers will have done the double over the Terriers and could well face them again in the play-off semi-finals - with Slavisa Jokanovic’s side backing themselves to do the business against Town again in the post-season. And a fourth defeat in seven matches could affect Town’s mental preparation for the run-in, let alone the playoffs, with three more matches to go after the weekend. A Town win however would all but secure play-off football and give the Terriers a boost should they face Fulham in the play-offs. HUDDERSFIELD Town boss David Wagner was pleased with how his side executed his game plan after the 1-1 draw at Derby County.

After two successive SkyBet Championship away defeats at Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, the German head coach made four changes to the side which beat Preston North End at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday.

And it was this team selection along with Town’s counterattacking approach as opposed to the usual ‘gegenpressing’ style which left many frustrated at the resultant draw.

After taking the lead through a ninth minute Collin Quaner strike, Town had to settle for a point after Jacob Butterfield’s deflected strike drew the Rams level with two minutes remaining.

And with Newcastle United losing 3-1 at Ipswich Town earlier in the day, many felt it was an opportunity wasted for Wagner’s side.

However, the German boss not only insisted the Terriers focus is solely on the play-offs but the Derby result, and more importantly the performance, was perfect preparation for the end of season lottery.

“We wanted to give Derby the ball, we wanted to play on the counter and show we are able to manage teams away from home,” David Wagner said.

“It was a totally different game plan to the one we have done before and I think it worked out over a long period of the game.

“I was very pleased with the performance – especially after the last away games when we weren’t very stable and compacted.

“We took a step in the right direction with this performance – of course we are disappointed because the equaliser was late, but I am pleased how we managed the game.

“This is not an easy place to