Dean Whitehead says successive clean sheets have set Huddersfield Town up nicely for a big test against Derby County.
The former Middlesbrough midfielder played a key role as his side held Ipswich Town goalless at Portman Road, then beat MK Dons 2-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium.
“The two performances have provided a platform for us,” said 33-year-old summer signing who has started every game so far.
“I believe we can kick on from here, and that’s our objective.
“The manager has got us set up well. We are firm at the back, we have pace out wide and power up front and with a tad more luck here and there, we will score more goals.”
Whitehead believes the point at Ipswich was particularly telling.
“They put us under a lot of pressure,” he explained.
“They put a lot of balls into the box and kept coming at us but we held firm to get our first clean sheet of the season and a well-deserved point.”
Stand-in skipper Whitehead said he was happy to hand the armband back to returning centre-back Mark Hudson down in Suffolk.
“Mark is our captain and is important to us,” said Whitehead of the ankle injury victim.
Take a look at Town's season so far below.
“I don’t know how many balls he heads away, you lose count.
“He is exactly what we need when we go to places like Ipswich and have to defend and be resolute.”
“I enjoyed stepping in when Mark was injured.
“I like the responsibility and it worked well with my game.”
Town have Middlesbrough loan winger Muzzy Carayol available against Derby.
The 27-year-old made his seventh Town appearance at Ipswich but missed the game against his former club MK Dons due to a family bereavement.
The Gambia international, who has also played for Torquay United, Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers, returned to training on Thursday
