JOEL LYNCH says Huddersfield Town have targeted a top-half-of-the-table finish as they look to kick any potential relegation concerns firmly into touch.

David Wagner’s side are aiming to bounce back after successive defeats on the road when they host Cardiff City today.

Town lost 5-2 in their FA Cup third-round replay at Reading then 2-1 at centre-back Lynch’s old club Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

A first defeat in six Championship games left them 17th, eight points above the drop zone.

When Wagner took over in

November, Town were two points off the relegation places.

Hear Doug Thomson on the latest Town transfer news

Video Loading

Lynch, 28, said: “When the gaffer took over it was about us trying to avoid

relegation.

“Now we are looking at mid-table and trying to progress.

“We are always determined to get results wherever we go now.

“There’s a lot of confidence within the squad. We will just keep improving.

“The gaffer has made a lot of changes. He has changed around the football we play. And you could see that against Brighton.

“At times, the football we played was a lot better than the football from the start of the season.

“We are steadily improving and we are picking up results.”

Town had Tommy Smith sent off in the 84th minute at Brighton, so he will miss the Cardiff game through

suspension.

And with skipper Mark Hudson

picking up a 10th booking of the

campaign, he must serve a two-match ban.

As a result, Town’s squad will be stretched.

Lynch, who was yellow carded for the eighth time this season at Brighton, said: “We have a few players suspended now so there will be a few changes. It will be interesting.

“We have a small squad and it will test us. But I am sure the players who step in will do their best and fit into what we are trying to do.”

Eastbourne-born Lynch was a trainee at Brighton before moving to

Nottingham Forest in 2009.

He is backing the third-placed

Seagulls to win promotion.

“It’s always great to go back. A lot of my friends and family still support the club,” he said.

“Brighton have improved loads since I left. Since the chairman has come in, he has done fantastically for the club.

“He has changed so much around, a new stadium and training ground.

“They have everything in place to be a Premier League team.”