Huddersfield Town Manager Simon Grayson told htafc.com this morning that he believes there is more to come from his team after their Play-Off semi-final first leg victory over MK Dons.
"At the start of the second half on Saturday we didn't pass the ball well and didn't do one or two of the things that we had worked on, so I still believe that we can play better," said Simon.
"I will set the team out to be positive as we were on Saturday and our intention will be to play from the shape of the team and win the game. If we get the first goal it will give us a massive boost, but if we don't then everybody has to stay strong. It is still game on - as we saw on Sunday things can change dramatically in football."
Town took their chances extremely well at stadiummk and were resolute in defence to deny the Dons any clear goal-scoring opportunities.
"The performance was very pleasing because the players stuck to the game plan. As a manager, when the players carry out your instructions it is very rewarding. I thought we worked extremely hard, passed the ball around well and created a number of good chances. We also defended well when we had to and we have to do exactly the same thing on Tuesday night. We can't rest on our laurels; we did what we needed to do on Saturday and need to finish the job off on Tuesday night.
"The first goal is important, but it isn't defining. If MK Dons get the first and we get the second goal then we are still in a good position. Without being big-headed, we believe we are good enough to win the game and finish off the tie."
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"It is going to be a cracking atmosphere on Tuesday night," Simon told htafc.com. "I am fully focused on my team and looking at what we can do to hurt MK Dons. Hopefully at the end of the game we will be going to Wembley, but we know we have got work to do."
The Terriers suffered a number of knocks throughout the game on Saturday and Simon updated everyone on their current situations a day ahead of the game.
"Peter (Clarke) finished the game which at one stage looked unlikely; I think he was in a bad state but he came through it. He saw the doctor on Sunday and he will see him again on Monday, but we are hopefully that he will be fine for Tuesday night.
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Peter receiving treatment after taking a knock in the second half |
"I think Peter should take knocks more often because he played better afterwards! 'The Skip' leads by example; I have played alongside him and I'm now managing him and he inspires the other players. Lee Novak showed the same amount of desire when he put his body on the line to block a shot in the box. We showed a desire and will not to concede so that we could take a clean sheet into the second leg.
"Calum Woods has a toe injury which is heavily bruised so we will have to see where he is. Scott Arfield went over on his ankle and we had one or two others who could have also come off during certain parts of the game. It was 'all hands to the pump' at certain periods in the game, but we came through it and we will give every player time to be fit for tomorrow night. Everyone has to be 100% fit though, because we can't carry on passengers on Tuesday night."
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