Huddersfield are perfect role models for Derby County’s promotion push

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Huddersfield Town won promotion through the play-offs last season.

Derby County have entered familiar territory over the past few weeks, falling away from the automatic promotion spots to the play-offs following another poor run of form at the turn of the new year.

It is déjà vu for Rams supporters, who have seen it before in the 2013/14, 2014/15 and the 2015/16 campaigns.

Derby tend to have such an impressive run of form in late autumn and over the festive periods, only to have a hiccup in January and, on one occasion, extending that right through until the end of the season.

It means supporters are generally feeling gloom at the prospect of reaching the play-offs, rather than heading in with momentum and a general belief that they can go all the way.

The play-offs are without doubt a lottery, yet teams in the past have found ways to better prepare themselves for the task and Huddersfield are an example of what to do in the final games leading up to them.

The Terriers knew automatic promotion was all but out of their reach with around eight games to go last year and, as a result, David Wagner’s men started to experiment with personnel and tactics.

Huddersfield, known for their high pressing and penetrating runs, opted to go to Pride Park last April and stick 11 men behind the ball and defend deep as they held on to a 1-1 draw.

It was not what anybody was expecting from Huddersfield that day but, in the end, it served as a great exercise for when the Yorkshire side facing Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.

Derby, first and foremost, need to secure a top six spot, but with eight points between themselves and seventh position after a few more wins, they can also look at ways at getting the best out of their creative players.

The Rams have struggled to break down teams this term, especially those who opt for a 3-5-2 formation such as Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday, so having time to find a solution between now and May could make all the difference come the end of the season.