LIFE at the top has prompted Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson into a dramatic rethink of his Division One promotion forecast.

A month ago, after a 3-0 hammering at the Reebok, the Terriers' boss said the chase for the Premiership was a two-horse race.

"The two top sides in this division are Bolton and Sunderland," he said categorically. "For the rest of us - maybe 10 or 12 teams - it's a scramble for the four play-off places."

But after seeing his side stay two points clear at the top with a 1-1 home draw against Sunderland at the McAlpine Stadium last night, Jackson changed his tune.

"Everyone expects Sunderland and Bolton to walk away with it but we're proving everybody wrong," he said with new-found confidence and determination.

"We've proved everybody wrong again by remaining top. Everyone thinks we'll get knocked off but teams are finding it difficult to do that.

"We did ourselves justice last night and Sunderland knew they'd been in a game, as we knew we'd been in a game. It was important we didn't get beaten because, if we had, they would have gone top."

Huddersfield were, nonetheless, relieved with the result. They led through top scorer Marcus Stewart but Sunderland skipper Kevin Ball equalised and it took an outstanding performance by home keeper Nico Vaesen to deny Peter Reid's side their place at the top.

Jackson's rethink echoes Colin Todd's insistence that the race for the Premiership is not a a formality.

After seeing his side slip to seventh in the table after Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by Watford, the Reebok boss said it was wrong to suggest Wanderers and Sunderland had it sewn up and listed Huddersfield among the serious challengers.

Nevertheless, he believes Wanderers have the quality to succeed and watching the events at the McAlpine last night merely added to his frustrations. "Comparing the way we play," he said, "it makes it even more of an injustice that we didn't pick up points the other night.

"Huddersfield will probably stay up there but we have the ability to succeed, if we can find some consistency."

Wanderers will be aiming to bounce back from their first defeat in 16 games at Bristol City tomorrow night.

Andy Todd comes back into the reckoning after sitting out the Watford game and Robbie Elliott and Hasney Aljofree will travel with the squad.

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