Huddersfield Town are stepping up their preparations for the Championship play-off final against Nottingham Forest with both teams knowing they are potentially just 90 minutes away from the Premier League.
The Terriers booked their spot at Wembley 24 hours before Forest by overcoming Luton Town in their semi-final. A 1-0 win in the second leg on Monday night thanks to Jordan Rhodes’ 82nd minute goal saw Huddersfield go through as 2-1 aggregate winners.
Forest followed suit the next day, Brice Samba the hero of a 3-2 penalty shootout win over Sheffield United at the City Ground. The goalkeeper saved three of the Blades’ four spot kicks to see Forest into the final.
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While celebrations from home fans followed the full-time whistle of both games, eyes now turn to preparations for the final at Wembley on May 29 (4.30pm kick-off). The time between the semi-finals and final allows both squads to do plenty of work on the training field.
And Huddersfield have used the extra time to go on a short training camp in Portugal, where players are being put through their paces in the sun. The Terriers are taking an 'if it ain't broke don’t fix it' approach after the same thing happening ahead of their 2017 play-off final. Huddersfield came out as 4-3 penalty shootout winners over Reading on that occasion, earning them a place in the Premier League.
Carlos Corberan’s side will return to Huddersfield next week, where they will then continue their preparations at the club’s Canalside training ground as the countdown to Wembley continues.
Ahead of the game, Forest boss Steve Cooper made a pledge to Reds fans over his preparation for his second play-off final in as many years, after being on the losing side with Swansea City 12 months ago. “I promise you I will work even harder than I have already worked to get this,” he said . “No days off.
“I will be the first one at the training ground. We will be ready. My experiences before are irrelevant. Those things make you stronger. They are good for you.”
