WANDERERS cut the gap on the play-offs to four points – but they sure rode their luck with the most slender of victories over Huddersfield.

Chris Eagles’ ninth goal of the campaign was enough to claim three points, though few performances on the night gave the illusion of a side that could be playing Premier League football next season.

The Whites huffed and puffed but never really got into their stride. But then do they really need to at this stage of the season, when points and nothing more are all important?

There were no complaints from the Wanderers faithful as they clapped off another home win – a sixth on the trot, and a fourth successive 1-0 scoreline at the Reebok.

After 25 minutes of the least eventful football played at the Reebok this season, full debutant Danny Butterfield inadvertently set the pulses racing with a poor back-pass that had Andy Lonergan racing off his line to clear just ahead of James Vaughan.

Moments later, Callum Woods – who had replaced the injured Jack Hunt after only 15 minutes – whizzed a shot narrowly wide of the post from 25 yards.

The game livened up a little from there, and half an hour in David Ngog provided us with a contender for miss of the season.

Jay Spearing found Eagles galloping forward on the right and after he had taken the ball superbly in his stride, he cut a pass back for Ngog unmarked eight yards out, only for the Frenchman to balloon a shot high, wide and handsome.

Considering the pressing need for points for both clubs, the tempo and urgency of the early exchanges were not exactly high.

Butterfield, playing his first league game since April 2012, looked short of match fitness and Ngog, who had been a driving force against Charlton, also seemed well below par.

Though Marcos Alonso wasn't far away from opening the scoring with a fine curling free kick that dropped just the wrong side of the upright, there was a sense of frustration in the stands as the sides headed goalless into the break.

But that frustration could have been all-out anger had Wanderers not got two big doses of good fortune right on the brink of half time.

First, a misplaced header from Zat Knight forced Lonergan into a scrambling save on his own line, then Sean Scannell's corner was headed on to the bar by Peter Clarke.

No wonder the locals made their feelings known as the teams went back down the tunnel.

There was an improvement in Wanderers immediately after the break and only a brilliant stop on his own line by Alex Smithies prevented Ngog from atoning for his earlier error with a shot on the turn.

Eagles sparked the uncertainty again with a loose pass that had the crowd grumbling, but then on 58 minutes all was forgiven.

Sordell did well to nick the ball from Paul Dixon on the left and pick out a White shirt with his pass. Eagles did what Ngog should have done in the first half, keeping his shot low to beat Smithies.

The goal served to stoke up Huddersfield's passion, however, and driven on by the superb Scannell on the left, they laid siege to Lonergan's goal.

The ex-Palace man, who played under Dougie Freedman at Selhurst Park, saw one effort flick off Spearing and just wide before ex-Wanderer Danny Ward blasted just over.

Scannell then brushed off a challenge from Chung-Yong to bring another good stop out of Lonergan – now clinging on to a clean sheet for grim death.

The game became so stretched in the last 10 minutes that we saw shots cleared off the line at either end within the space of 30 seconds.

Alonso's goalbound blast was blocked by Clarke before Butterfield denied sub Jermain Beckford a certain goal at the other.

That prompted Freedman to send on midfield terrier Medo for Sordell to try and restore a measure of control.

And it worked, as the final stages of the game were mainly fought out in midfield, far away from Lonergan's net.

Huddersfield's one late chance fell to Oscar Gobern – and the whole Reebok held their breath as his flicked header dropped agonisingly wide of the post.

Brighton's draw with Charlton had offered yet another glimmer of hope for the Whites, and given the “ref justice” they received at The Valley on Saturday, you could argue that Freedman's men deserve a little bit of luck.