Huddersfield Town cannot afford to repeat David Wagner wobble in promotion hunt

Here they are once again, then. On this day five years ago, David Wagner’s side sat third in the table after a frankly remarkable three months.

Just like this season, Huddersfield Town had started the season well. Just like this season, Huddersfield Town had a bit of a wobble over October and November. And just like this season, Huddersfield Town had been practically unbeatable through January, February and March.

There was one defeat in January, away to Sheffield Wednesday; but otherwise Town’s copybook was practically unblemished as they took 36 of a possible 45 points, five more than Carlos Corberan’s side have, even in going unbeaten over their past 15 league games.

Everything is going swimmingly, and it would be pretty reasonable to assume that their next match, at home to bottom side Peterborough United and their winless run of 11 games in all competitions, will end in a fourth straight victory for Town.

But those who remember the 2016/17 season well could tell you how foolish that would be. Having put themselves in a commanding position, Town’s final dozen or so games was their worst period of the season.

Losing to Newcastle and Fulham was no major shame, but they also lost 4-0 away to Bristol City, who ended the season in 17th; 0-1 at home to Burton Albion (20th); 2-0 away to Nottingham Forest (21st); and 2-0 away to Birmingham (19th). They also lost 0-3 at home to 12th-placed Cardiff on the final day, but with their playoff place already assured, a rotated lineup and Danny Ward’s early red card made that result somewhat more explicable.

Having been 11 points clear of seventh place and just six points off the automatic places with a game in hand, Town ended up finishing 5th in the table, just six points