Leeds United given ultimate praise by Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley but Terriers in better shape for rematch

IMPRESSED: Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley says Leeds United should take the applause for being the best side in the division. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

Cowley, though, admits his Terriers side are now in much better shape than they were three months ago when Leeds triumphed at the John Smith's.

Goals from Gjanni Alioski and Pablo Hernandez gave United a 2-0 win at Huddersfield on December 7 as the Whites made it six wins in a row en route to seven-straight successes.

The run saw United build-up an 11-point cushion in the division's automatic promotion places as the Terriers looked to recover from what was a third defeat in their last five games against the Whites.

The John Smith's reverse against Leeds left Huddersfield fourth-bottom and just two points above the dropzone but three months later the Terriers are up to 17th and four points clear of trouble.

Town also approach Saturday's clash at Elland Road following back-to-back home victories against Bristol City and Charlton Athletic with the latter thumped 4-0 at the John Smith's last weekend.

Cowley, though, says his side are now approaching the division's ultimate test against Marcelo Bielsa's Whites who have recovered from a run of taking just ten points out of a possible 33 by winning their last five.

"We are respectful of Leeds. They have had a very good season thus far," said Cowley.

"They have put themselves in a really good position and they are a team that play with a real energy and intensity and play fast and furious football with real purpose.

"Their movement is outstanding and they are the best in the league in terms of counter-runs and double movements and penetrative nature of their movement and their rotation and ability to empty and fill up space.

"They ask an awful lot of questions defensively, but we have to make sure we match that physically in our tactical organisation against the ball and cause Leeds a problem when we have the ball. We have worked hard to focus on both sides of games.

"We must be at the top of our game with and against the ball to get something. Leeds are the best team in the division, in my opinion.

"But we feel in a much better place than we did when we last faced Leeds."