Huddersfield Can Possibly Demand Owls Replay

Mick Russell dished out two yellow cards to Jeremy Helan
yet failed to send the player off.

A former Football League official has issued a statement which implies that the terriers may be able to demand a replay of the Yorkshire Derby against Sheffield Wednesday after referee Mike Russell failed to send off Owls player Jeremy Helan despite handing him two yellow cards.

Tony Leake told Press Association Sport;

"The matter will now need to be dealt with by the relevant authorities.You cannot rule out the possibility of a replay. If Huddersfield won the game 3-0 I would not expect that to happen. But if Huddersfield believe the player being on the field meant the result did not go in their favour then it could be that the game is replayed."

All of Huddersfield Town football club were baffled with the referee's blunder especially Simon Grayson who expressed his anger after the game to the camera's saying;

I just think referees in general should be accountable for any decisions and have a press conference after the game, whether good decisions or bad decisions. It shouldn't be up to myself or Dave Jones to explain, they should be out and you should be able to ask questions as to why he made certain decisions. 

Grayson Reflects On Yorkshire Derby Stalemate

Grayson was left bemused after a blunder
from referee Mike Russell

In a game far from the excitement when both Huddersfield Town & Sheffield Wednesday met back at the start of the season, Simon Grayson has insisted that his team is on the right track after a goalless stalemate meant both teams shared the points on Saturday. Here is the terriers boss post match interview;

"We had to go back to being hard to beat and make sure that we didn’t give Sheffield Wednesday too many opportunities. The team we selected was one that could win the game, but also one that would make us more solid. The players haven’t won in a few games and aren’t playing with as much confidence as they were at the start of the season, so we have to be hard to beat and make sure that we don’t give away too many chances. We have got players who can hurt teams upfront such as Jermaine Beckford, James Vaughan, Adam Hammill and Sean Scannell."

"We may not have won in five, but we have only been beaten once in our last five games. We keep picking up points and we need to keep chipping away until we get that victory. The players worked harder today and showed a lot of commitment and I am sure that when we start winning games we will show more quality."

Grayson's team sheet was announced with striker James Vaughan left on the bench and the manager explained why this was the case;

"We didn’t want to put too much stress on James because he has only just returned from injury. He is also a booking away from missing Leicester and if he had got booked today it would leave us short upfront for that game. Sean Scannell also missed out because it has been a demanding week, but I thought Adam Hammill came in and gave us a spark in attack."

The first half of the game included the main talking point of the entire match as Mick Russell (the referee) flashed Jeremy Helan two yellow cards yet failed to send the player off. Huddersfield Town players were astonished as the referee waved his hands to continue the game play with Helan still on the field. Grayson was also furious on the sidelines as he confronted the fourth official but his shouts fell on death ears;

"He made a mistake. He has clearly shown Helan a yellow card and I think instead of writing his name in the book he has written Michail Antonio’s. How you can do that I don’t know? Everyone in the Ground knew what he had done. It was a difficult afternoon for the referee and he made some very poor decisions. Something like that should never happen; the referee has assistant referees to help him. It wasn’t just the referee who made the mistake it was all his assistants as well, it could have meant that we had lost the game. I don’t know why the fourth official has intervened and told the referee that he has made a mistake. He had a responsibility to help the referee." "I would have felt aggrieved if he had gone on to play a part, or score a goal for them. If we had played against ten men for an hour of the game we would have had a better chance of gaining a victory. It is disappointing that we have to talk about a decision the referee has made instead of the football that was played in an entertaining Yorkshire derby."

What To Expect From Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday will visit The John Smiths Stadium on Saturday to take on Huddersfield Town in a game which both teams will be expecting to take points from. As always, we went in search for an opposition fan to give us a bit of a insight into their club as well as what to expect from them when they take on the terriers. This time we have John Wozniak who wrote on behalf of East Midlands Owls;

3 wins on the bounce have silenced the Dave Jones critics (for now). A mixture of bad luck, bad refereeing decisions and some early season poor defending sent most of Sheffield 6 into a state of panic. 

Those that are familiar with Milan Manderic will no that he is not afraid to fire his manager. Despite a few calls for Dave Jones’s head, Milan and 99% of Wednesdayites have stood by him. 

Having watched the Owls home and away since our League Cup game at Oldham in August, Wednesdayites have spent most of the season scratching our heads, wondering how we have not taken 3 points or even a draw from all but a few of our games. 

A low point in the season was against Leicester and Watford at home. The team showed no spirit or desire to win. The East Midlands Owls lads, sat down and discussed who should come into replace Dave Jones. The answer we came up with after 3 hours of head scratching was simple, stick with Dave Jones. 

A 1-0 defeat away to Cardiff was harsh and the lads showed some spirit. Suicidal defending cost us a bitter blow at home to Bristol City. A backs to the wall performance at Barnsley set us up nicely to beat Chartlon at home followed by yesterday’s win away at Bolton.So what can you expect from the Owls on Saturday? Firstly 99% of Wednesdayites won’t want to see Jay Bothroyd playing. His lethargic approach to the game hasn’t won anyone over. You have already seen our pacely players Michail Antonio and Jermain Johnson. Our new recruit Jeremy Helan has blistering pace, and the goal he scored against Charlton was nothing short of class.  There is plenty of spirit and quality in this side, as the lads have shown in the last three games, they will play until the last whistle. We are not getting too carried away. The introduction of Stuart Gray to the back room staff has brought a sense of organisation to the team.  

Dave Jones’s team selection for Saturday will remain a mystery, but in Jones we trust.  I predict a hard fought game and plenty of noise from the 4,000 travelling Wednesdayites.There will be plenty of banter on twitter etc but on behalf of everyone at East Midlands Owls we would like to wish all Huddersfield Town fans a Happy New Year! 

FA See Sense Regarding Gerrard Red Card

The FA have today upheld the red card which was dished out to Anthony Gerrard following a perfect tackle which he made on the edge of the terriers box against Crystal Palace. Huddersfield Town appealed against the decision which saw Grayson's men having to hold on to a point against a strong Palace side and today the FA have agreed with the club.

Anthony Gerrard scored in Towns last match against Blackpool on Saturday and the upheld verdict from the FA means he will be available for selection against Sheffield Wednesday and will not face a three match ban which normally comes with a straight red card.





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Grayson Disappointed With Terriers Performance

Simon Grayson reflected back on his sides lucky 1-1 draw against Blackpool after the game yesterday and admitted that the terriers were lucky to get a point despite conceding in stoppage time;

"We can't be disappointed with a draw after that display. We should have been dead and buried within the first 25 minutes; the players can't play any worse than they did in the first half. We looked disorganised and we didn't have a run or a pass in us. Blackpool made us look very ordinary and the only saving grace at half time was that we weren't behind."

"We tried to match them up in the second half and by doing that we gained a little bit of momentum and managed to get a goal. You hope that you can see the game out from that position, but they managed to get a goal which was no less than what they deserved. It is difficult to work out why we were so bad."

"Players didn't get tight enough to the Blackpool players; they were two or three yards off every one of them. We didn't get anywhere near them and that led to us looking out of position. I am grateful for the point in the end, we should have been dead and buried. If we had won the game or even with the draw it is papering over the cracks of our performance. I am not worried because I have got belief in the players. We need to work harder than the opposition and stop them from playing and we will eventually get our rewards."

An unlikely goal for Huddersfield came from Anthony Gerrard who put the terriers in front in the second half. Grayson praised his defender but was keen to put a lot of blame on the entire team;

"He made a couple of decent clearances, but we shouldn't have been at full stretch in the first place to keep them out. We were on home soil, in front of a decent crowd and we failed to be the dominant team. I am hugely disappointed that we haven't carried forward the Crystal Palace performance, if anything we have taken a backwards step."

Calum Woods forced Grayson into a change as did Danny ward who picked up a slight knee injury before kick-off;

"Calum hurt his groin at the end of the first half and Danny Ward felt his knee during the warm-up; both players were taking off as a precaution ahead of Sheffield Wednesday."

Huddersfield Town are now without a win in eight straight league games and consequently sit in 15th position in The Championship table.

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What To Expect From Blackpool

This Boxing Day will see Huddersfield Town host Blackpool at The John Smiths Stadium. These two met earlier on in the season with the terriers coming out on top against the tangerines at Bloomfield Road on a cold, wet & windy night by three goals to one. Things are slightly different now for both teams and a similar result seems unlikely as Huddersfield go into this game on a poor run of form having not won one game in their last seven outings. On the other hand, Blackpool are on the up after previous manager Ian Holloway was replaced by Michael Appleton who has since got his team playing his style of football and it is working.

This view has been echoed by lifelong Blackpool fan Laura Bates who has provided us with a fantastic article outlining what to expect from her beloved side tomorrow afternoon;

After the departure of Ian Holloway, most people believed that our promotion chances had vanished. People described our new manager to be ‘the cheap’ option slating him before he even had a week in charge, after going 8 games without defeat opinions have began to change.  The team is starting to blend together with an Appleton flavour to it; they look fitter and more organised now.  The team have got more steel to their game and we have lost some of the cavalier exploits from the Holloway era.

After the brilliant start that we had, it was expected that we would be the team to beat this season. However, things changed when Huddersfield visited us in September for the televised fixture which then resulted in a slump in form which then saw us only picking up 5 points from a possible 21.  This has now changed, results have improved and we are now beginning to move up the table. 

There will still be mixed feelings from Blackpool supporters when they see the Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson due to the nature of his departure from the Seasider’s to Leeds, leaving them in the lurch with all the loan players he had signed leaving at the same time.  The departure left a sour taste to most Blackpool fans and nearly cost us our Championship status.

It will be nice to see Peter Clarke and Keith Southern again who were both favourites of the Blackpool supporters during their time at Bloomfield Road.  Southern spent 10 years at Blackpool, he will always be fondly remembered and we all wish him the best of luck!  
After Gary-Taylor Fletcher signed from the Terriers in 2007, he has become a fans favourite over the years showing real potential becoming a regular first team player till he got injured.  After coming on, on Friday against Wolves it is expected that he will be back in the starting 11 when we come to face Huddersfield on Boxing Day.

Opposition sides have seen Blackpool this season to be a one man team. With Tom Ince taking all the headlines with 13 assists and 9 goals in 20 league appearances it is understandable that Premier League teams want to snap up the young England under 21 star.  However as I am sure you will all see on Boxing Day that Blackpool are far from a ‘one man team’, with midfield steel from Osborne and the defensive skills of Baptiste plus others we will be a hard nut to crack this Christmas.

The reverse fixture saw Huddersfield take all 3 points deservedly,  with us being battered 3-1, showing one of our worst performances at home in a long time.  Hopefully on the 26th we will put out a better performance, take our chances and come back to Blackpool with all 3 points!

For my prediction, I am feeling a 3-2 victory for the mighty Pool! GTF with 1 and Ince with the other 2.

Beckford Loan Extension

Huddersfield Town have announced the news today that they have managed to secure Jermaine Beckford until the end of the current season. Christmas came early for Town fans as the news filtered through social networking sites before being officially announced by the clubs website.

Beckford's loan was due to end on the 29th of December but the loan extension will see him play in the blue & white stripes until the end of the current campaign. Grayson was delighted with the news;

"We're delighted that Jermaine wants to stay and that Leicester have agreed to the deal. I think people have seen his qualities and what he can bring to this football club when he's been in the team. He has a real hunger and desire to succeed here and do well for us. Unfortunately we've missed Jermaine a bit through injury, but hopefully he will get a clear run now and get plenty of games and goals under his belt. Jermaine has no history of long term injuries and unfortunately these things just happen at times. He's a very highly-tuned athlete and we've just been a little bit unfortunate. We've missed other players for spells this season and that just happens in football."

"Hopefully we can get the best out of him from now until the end of the season, because a fit Jermaine Beckford will get goals. He is a threat in the opposition's area and that's what we need."

Jermaine Beckford very rarely speaks to the press but he spoke highly of the club and the fans today after the news was announced;

"This decision came naturally, as the Manager and the players have shown a lot of faith in me. It feels like the right place to be right now."

"The reaction of the fans always plays a part in this sort of decision too, because they are the fabled 12th man. For the Huddersfield Town fans to take me in like they have done is a contributing factor to me wanting to extend the loan."

"The injury has been frustrating though, to put it mildly; I'm fortunate enough that I've never really been injured throughout my career. To have scored in half the games that I've played in so far is a nice feeling, but at the same time I would have liked to have scored much more. There's lots of time left in the season though."

"As the Manager has said, everybody's main aim here is to stay in this division; if we can do that, everyone will be happy. Personally I feel we have a little bit more than what's needed simply to stay in this division and without putting any pressure on any of the boys, I don't think we'll be far off the Play-Offs."

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Huddersfield Appeal Against Gerrard's Red Card

Huddersfield Town and Simon Grayson have appealed against the straight red card which saw Anthony Gerrard leave the field of play against Crystal Palace on Saturday. The defender was sent off after what can only be described as a beautiful sliding tackle on the edge of the terriers penalty box. A clearly frustrated Gerrard would of missed the next three matches but Huddersfield have decided to appeal to the FA for the red card to be overturned.

With how the appealing system works it will mean that Anthony Gerrard is now available for the Boxing Day clash against Blackpool as the appeal cannot be heard until Thursday at the earliest.




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We Are Back!

You may have realised that HTFC Hub has been a bit quiet a lately. Maybe you were thinking we had disappeared or maybe infiltrated by another Championship clubs fansite?! This would of been exciting but we have simply been on holiday for a few weeks but we are now back for the Christmas period. Huddersfield Town have been finding things tough whilst we have been away(since the Brighton Hove Albion game). Here are some statistics since our last post on the website (including Crystal Palace away);

Points gained - 3 
Goals for - 7 
Goals against - 15 
 Won - 0 
Drawn - 3 
Lost - 4

 As you can see we have been struggling immensely against teams which we could of managed better results against. A home defeat against derby rivals Leeds United will have dampened spirits and it hit Town fans hard as they slipped further down the Championship table. A leaky defence has seen them concede more than double what they have managed to score and in this league you cannot afford to have a leaky defence.

Tough scoreline for Huddersfield Fans to take

Injuries have also hit us hard whilst we have been away. Beckford & Vaughan have rarely partnered each other and this has ultimately left Simon Grayson with a limited amount of selection choices against opponents with full strength squads. Middlesbrough played us off the park and so did Leeds United in the second half. A small glimmer of hope emerged as we took the lead against Bolton at The John Smiths Stadium but it soon disappeared as the Lancashire club battled hard to gain a well deserved point. The terriers then fell victim to an on form Hull City side and although we managed to have some good spells of possession we failed to make the net ripple and ultimately lost the game 2-0.

Tempers flared against Hull City

An away point against high flyers Crystal Palace may well look a good point on paper but many Huddersfield Town fans will feel disappointed that they couldn't get all three after playing against ten men for the majority of the game. Whether this away point will see a revitalised Huddersfield Town remains to be seen. However, HTFC Hub is back!

Pre Match Analysis: Brighton

Key Player: Craig Mackail-Smith
The striker has hit form a lately and many Town fans will remember how he destroyed our back line in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley two years ago. With bags of pace and a real keen eye for finishing off attacking moves and making his opponents net ripple, Craig Mackail-Smith may be where the game is either won or lost by the terriers. He has already scored 9 this season and will be looking to make it into double figures on Saturday.


Last Time Out: Wolves 3-3 Brighton (10/11/12)


Last Time We Met: Brighton 2-3 Huddersfield (30/04/11)


Biggest League Victory This Season: Brighton 5-1 Barnsley (25/08/12)


Biggest League Loss This Season: Leicester City 1-0 Brighton (23/10/12)


Top Goalscorer: Craig Mackail-Smith (9)


Most Assists: Bruno Saltor (4)


Form: LLDDWD <--most recent 


Score Prediction: Huddersfield Town 2-2 Brighton (Beckford, Clayton)







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Patience Must Be Shown Insists Grayson

Simon Grayson has given his verdict on how Huddersfield Town must play in order to get anything from the game against Brighton tomorrow. The terriers will come up against an out of form Brighton side who have failed to win in their last four outings but as previously shown in this league, no game should be taken for granted.

"Gus Poyet likes his players to get the ball on the deck, build up from the back and keep possession, and the statistics show they average around 400 passes per game."  

"The full-backs go high and wide, the centre-backs are comfortable in possession and midfielder Liam Bridcutt loves to get on the ball and initiate attacks. We have to impose ourselves on the game, but we also have to be aware of how they like to play, and we may have to be patient at times."





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Terriers Want Beckford Extension

Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle has stated on BBC Radio that he is hoping that Jermaine Beckford can have his loan extended with the terriers until the end of the season. Beckford joined on loan from Leicester City after a deal fell through at the last minute in the transfer window. Since joining, Beckford has gone on to score three goals in six appearances and the terriers chairman praised the loanee's attitude and commitment for the goals he has scored;

"I think Jermaine's view is he'd probably like to stay with us for the season and hopefully that can be arranged. He loves it here and gets on very well with Simon Grayson. Jermaine is a fantastic character. Before I met him I thought he had a bit of an attitude but since I met him, he's been a cracking guy. We'd like him to be around longer term but ultimately it's Leicester's call."

Beckford was one of Simon Grayson's main targets and he finally got his replacement for Jordan Rhodes when Leicester allowed the striker to move after dropping him to the U21 side. Hoyle admitted that the club was hugely effected by the loss of Rhodes but it has moved on in the right direction;

"When Jordan went it killed us to be honest. I never thought that anyone would come in and pay £8 million for him and the timing of the deal was an absolute nightmare in terms of getting a replacement."





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Alan Lee Feels The Love

'Alan, Alan Leeee'e is something every Huddersfield Town fan will have sung over the last few years and now the fan favourites striker admits he feels wanted every time he walks onto the field. After earning himself another one year contract at the club after a successful promotion campaign, Alan Lee has gone on to prove many doubters wrong and show he is still capable of producing at the second level of English football;

"There was a great atmosphere in the dressing room and the lads were thrilled to bits with that performance because we played well, were solid and felt comfortable enough in the end."

"We have picked up seven points out of nine in the week which is very satisfying and it's brilliant that it puts us back in the top six."

Alan Lee isn't a top goalscorer but his contributions have been vital this season into seeing games out. Coming on with four minutes to spare at Oakwell, Alan Lee had instructions to see the game out and he did just that;

"Your job as a centre forward in those circumstances is basically not to give the ball away, get it in the corners and win things. It's important you get the ball going in that direction and I'm experienced enough now to know what to do."

"The fans were amazing. The support they gave us and the noise they made throughout was just smashing, and from a personal point of view they are so supportive of me it just melts my heart."






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Grayson Happy With The Basics

Huddersfield Town were forced to grind out yet another victory in front of more than 4000 traveling fans as they took on Barnsley on Saturday. The terriers went into the game as favorites and lived up to their reputation of a team fighting to be in the play-offs with a 1-0 win but it didn't come as easy as what Grayson would of liked. However, the manager was very pleased with the three points and the work ethic which the whole team showed;

"I thought today was a very professional performance from the players with some good quality, hard work and endeavour, the basics you need to win a game in this division. To come to Oakwell is very difficult anyway without it being a Yorkshire derby and I thought we did ever so well. We created some good chances and put them under pressure, but at only 1-0 up going into the latter stages of the game you do wonder if it's going to be one of those days where they nick one after we've dominated the chances throughout the game. However, today was a very professional performance."

"We wanted to pass the ball a little bit because I feel we'd been going too long a bit too early at times in the first half and I thought we passed it well in the second half. I criticised the performance away from home at Millwall a couple of weeks ago when we showed a lack of discipline and lost the game, but today we showed the other side and that's why we won the game."

"Full credit to the players, because they adapted to do what we had to today. Every man out there contributed; people like Jermaine will get the plaudits because of his goal, but Adam Clayton and Keith Southern were outstanding in midfield as was Danny Ward when he came on. Paul Dixon had a good game too; everyone did throughout the team. I said to the players five minutes before we went out that the only motivation they need is to make sure they stay in the team. We have ten others desperate to get in the team and everyone has to do what they can to keep playing. Adam Hammill, Calum Woods, Anthony Gerrard and Oliver Norwood are all unlucky today; probably the three unluckiest are Anton Robinson, Scott Arfield and Murray Wallace who didn't even get in the 18. That is testament to the squad we have got; they are pushing each other week in, week out and that's probably why we are doing well at the moment."

The terriers got their first and only goal in the match just when Grayson had switched both Novak & Church and the manager paid tribute how flexible he can be with his team because of the quality of players Huddersfield now have;

"We have the flexibility in that Lee Novak will play anywhere for the team and Simon Church can play out wide. We set off with Simon on the right hand side and Novak down the middle, but we thought we could cause them different problems by moving Simon down the middle and within a couple of minutes it had worked. It was an exciting line-up we put out with Scannell, Novak, Beckford and Church in the team. Sean showed a different side today; he worked extremely hard and showed quality with the pass that found Simon's run. Jermaine got across the first man and did what he's good at by putting the ball in the back of the net. It was a really nice goal."

Grayson was also very happy with the concentration levels of his team, especially Alex Smithies who was quiet all game but produced saves when he was needed to do so;

"To get anything in the Championship you have to keep going right to the end. If you don't concentrate it doesn't matter who you're playing, you will get punished. Full credit to the players as they showed a desire not to get beaten today."

Jermaine Beckford scored Huddersfield's only goal of the game but the striker went down in the second half and called to the dugout to be substituted. Grayson did so and he gave fans an update of his strikers fitness levels after the game;

"Jermaine went on a run and felt his hamstring a little bit, so it was more of a precaution. You'll all get to know Jermaine's mannerisms over the next few weeks! He's scoring goals and I thought he worked well with the other strikers today and we were a constant threat every time we went forward."

Grayson gave Simon Church his loan debut for the terriers and he both impressed the manager and the fans with a sterling performance;

"I thought he did very well. It was unfortunate that he couldn't get on the score-sheet, but he worked tirelessly hard on the right hand side and down the middle. When you're away from home and you have two strikers that are constantly willing to run behind the defence, you have a great opportunity in a game. It would have been nice if he could have rounded off his performance with a goal, but I'm sure there are goals to come from him."

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Grayson Understands The Task His Team Faces

Simon Grayson has declared that today's match against Barnsley will be a very tough test for his Huddersfield Town team regardless of how the table currently looks. The terriers will travel to Oakwell in search of all three points and to try and win their second Yorkshire derby of the season. Here is what Grayson has had to say heading into today's 3pm kick off;

"I think Oakwell certainly creates a good atmosphere and there will be good numbers behind the goal at the weekend. Barnsley fans come out in force and are very passionate and vocal about their team too and it has all the ingredients of being a fantastic game."

"I have good and bad memories of being at Oakwell, but they are in the past and I'm looking at what we're trying to do in the future now. I'm looking forward to the weekend. The Yorkshire derbies are coming thick and fast over the next few weeks as we face Leeds and Hull too. We want the bragging rights and to be putting a smile on our supporters' faces when they go to work on a Monday morning, but the most important thing is to get the three points so we can try and improve our position."

Many bookies are just edging Huddersfield Town as the favourites to win today's game but Grayson was keen to state that odds means nothing as proven with the terriers lost 3-1 against Peterborough earlier on in the season;

"I certainly don't look at us as the favourites. I think we are the underdogs in almost every game that we'll go into this season. Barnsley have been in the Championship for many years now and have done well; Keith has done well on limited resources too. Just because we are above them in the table right now doesn't make the game any easier; I'm sure they'll want to get one over us in a local derby match."

"I've found out in the past that Oakwell is a very tough place to go when you are involved in a Yorkshire derby, but it's a game that we are looking forward to and one that we know we can go and win. We're looking to put on a performance that will help us achieve that, but if we have to try and grind a result out we will try to do that too. It should be a cracking game. I watched Barnsley against Birmingham and they absolutely destroyed them that night to win 5-0 away from home in the Championship is fantastic. I was talking to the Blackburn staff after our game on Tuesday night and they also said that Barnsley were one of the best teams they had played this season too in the way they pass the ball around and create opportunities, so we're under no illusions, this is a really tough game."

Grayson then reiterated that the clubs aim was to stay up this season and although they are currently flying, this aim has not yet been achieved;

"Success for us this year is to finish fourth from bottom. That's the only expectancy level that Dean has on us and the players, to stay in the division. If we finish any higher we've had a fantastic season, because we've been out of the Championship a long time. We've got a good group together and we've had a good start, so hopefully we can push on and try to achieve more."

"Anyone that knows me will know I'm a very dour Yorkshireman who plays everything down anyway! I warned everyone that we would have some dark days and we did at Peterborough and Millwall. We still have two thirds of the season to go and anything can happen. We could have a bad run or a fantastic one."

"Don't get me wrong. We have our own aims of what we'd like to do and I'm not saying that I'd settle for fourth from bottom. I demand high standards from the players every time we're on the training pitch and they know that if they slip below that it won't be tolerated. We have a positive attitude running through the football club from top to bottom; the supporters love every minute of it at this moment in time and hopefully we'll look back on this season as a successful one when it ends."

"I want to win every football match I'm involved in as a Manager, so we'll set the team out to be hard to beat and looking to win the game."

Huddersfield Town bolstered their striking force in the week by bringing in Reading loanee Simon Church who Barnsley were very keen on too. Keith Hill admitted he was after the 23 year old who may be in with a chance of starting today;

"I know that Simon Church probably had a lot of options of other clubs to go to over the last week or so once he was made available for loan. We looked at him over the summer, but Reading were reluctant to let him out; once we got the call that he was available, we moved very quickly. Once again the Chairman gave me his full backing and we went out and did it."

"When I spoke to Simon he was enthusiastic about playing First Team football and he's a good player. He has proved he can handle the division and he's hungry for success and games. Hopefully he fits the bill in what we're looking for and vice versa. He's a wholehearted player. He works extremely hard, which I want all our players to do here, and he has an eye for a goal. For someone so young he has also played a lot of games and has experienced top level football on the international stage too. He can play down the middle or wide, so he gives us that flexibility as well."

"He's been nice and sharp on the training ground. He'll have a nice buzz knowing that he'll be in the squad at the weekend. It's a real coup that we've got him here, because the players coming out of the Premier League are not cheap so once again the Chairman takes credit for that. I think that as a Club we are showing our intent through the players we are attracting and people see this as a good place to come."

"The Chairman and I want young, hungry players who have the bit between their teeth and will give their all for this football club, whether they are on loan or coming permanently.  We are nowhere near one of the biggest budgets in the division and there are many clubs with far bigger budgets than us. We're working with a competitive budget and we're working within that structure; we have to balance the books like every other club."

Although Church seems to have been brought in to replace the injured James Vaughan, Grayson still remained optimistic that Vaughan will get back to full fitness some time soon;

"James Vaughan is a doubt for the weekend again, whereas 'Becks' will be a close call. He has trained again this morning, so we'll see how he settles down over the next 48 hours but if there is any doubt he won't play, because we'd rather be without him for another week than lose him for six."

"Simon became available to us and we've always said we're looking to improve the squad regardless of injuries. He gives us great competition. Lee Novak played very well over the last two games and got two goals the other night, whereas Alan Lee came on for 25 minutes and really affected the game. You need competition for places in the squad and we've got that here."

In addition to Church joining the terriers, Jack Hunt is available for selection after serving his two match ban for being sent off at Millwall;

"It's nice to have Jack back after his two match ban. However, the team has got four points from a possible six in that time and he'll have to wait to see if he can get back into the team. We've got good competition. Anthony Gerrard has done well for us this season and Danny Ward came on the other night and made an impact."

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Pre Match Analysis: Barnsley

Key Player: Jacob Mellis
A summer signing on a free transfer after being released by European champions Chelsea, Jacob Mellis rejoined the Reds after a loan spell under Mark Robins towards the end of the 2010/11 season. Mellis hit the headlines in March when he released a smoke bomb at the Chelsea training ground which lead to his release for the incident. Despite denying he was interested in the 21 year-old after the incident, stating he wasn't bringing any troublemakers into the club, Keith Hill went back on his comments and saw the opportunity to help young Jacob turn his life and his career around and signed him on a two-year contract. Similar to his namesake, Jacob Butterfield, he seems to have the qualities that saw our former captain make the move to the Premier League. Instrumental in the game against Birmingham, assisting three of the five goals, his passing ability and vision is second-to-none, he is the kind of playmaker who can unlock doors for the strikers and he's also has a goal in him, scoring twice this season.


Last Time Out: Derby County 2-0 Barnsley (06/11/12)


Last Time We Met: Huddersfield Town 1-3 Barnsley (2005/06; League One Play-Offs)


Biggest League Victory This Season: Birmingham City 0-5 Barnsley (22/09/12)

Biggest League Loss This Season: Brighton 5-1 Barnsley (25/08/12)


Top Goalscorer: Craig Davies (7)


Most Assists: Jacob Mellis (7)


Form: LWDLLL <--most recent 


Score Prediction: Barnsley 0-3 Huddersfield Town (Beckford(2), Norwood)





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What To Expect From Barnsley

Its that time of the week again where we look ahead at the task in hand for the terriers at the weekend. This Saturday, Huddersfield Town will travel to Oakwell to take on Barnsley in an all Yorkshire affair so we went in search for a Tykes fan to let us know how their club is getting on this season as well as 'what to expect'. Step forward Adam Taylor. The Barnsley supporter provided us with a great article on his team;

‪"Saturday will see a good old fashioned Yorkshire derby between two great sides, both under the leadership of up-and-coming managers in Keith Hill and Simon Grayson, who like to pass the ball around the field. This is the first meeting between Barnsley and Huddersfield since that thrilling 3-1 victory (3-2 on aggregate) in the League One play-off semi-final in the Reds favour six years ago, goals from Paul Hayes, Daniel Nardiello and Paul Reid sending us on our way to the Millennium Stadium which would see us make our return to the Championship. Another meeting that sticks in the mind of Reds fans is back in November 1998 which saw Huddersfield thrashed 7-1 in front of the Sky cameras at Oakwell and most Terriers fans will be hoping for different scoreline."
 
"On to our start to the 2012/13 season, a busy summer at Oakwell saw nine players, including former Roma and Tottenham striker Mido, sign up for the Keith Hill and David Flitcroft revolution but a big blow was the loss of captain and star player, Jacob Butterfield, to Premier League Norwich City. After a positive start which saw us gain 11 points from the first two months of the season including a televised five nil thrashing of Birmingham City, the Reds come into this game off the back of three defeats and this could be mainly down to the loss of leading goalscorer Craig Davies, who scored four goals in that brilliant game which showed the work Hill and Flitcroft are doing at Oakwell."

"Its been more than a year since Hill was brought in from Rochdale, and his aim was to bring a neat brand of passing football, and since then it looks to be paying off with the players he has brought in and also the players he already had putting in more than a shift and showing the "endeavour" he wants from his players."
 
"We'll start from the front-line an as mentioned before, leading striker Craig Davies looks likely to miss out with a hamstring injury so it will be more than likely it will be veteran striker Marlon Harewood leading the line, which in all honesty looks a disaster as he has no pace and at the moment, he couldn't score in a brothel with five grand in his pockets. Hopefully after a goal against his former club Nottingham Forest the other week, it could bring a bit of confidence back and believe me, we need the goals. The only other options we have is Chris Dagnall who, despite all his hard work, is not a natural Championship goalscorer and 18 year-old Danny Rose, who in my opinion isn't quite ready to step up quite yet."

"Hopefully for our sake, Keith will have brought in another striker on loan before Saturday after missing out on Reading striker Simon Church to who else but Huddersfield."
 
"In the middle of the park, Saturday will probably see the return of winger Jim O'Brien who has missed the start of the season with a dislocated shoulder and it could also see a home debut for young Toni Silva, another summer signing who has missed out though injury. Three certain starters that could face the Terriers are Stephen Dawson, a dynamic workhorse of a player, Tomasz Cykwa, a very skillful playmaker with plenty of Championship experience with Derby and Reading, and Jacob Mellis, the kind of player that plays behind the striker and unlocks doors. In my opinion, Mellis will be the key player for Barnsley as his vision and passing is second to none. The only thing that hinders him is his consistency."
 
"At the back, this season has seen the introduction of 18 year-old academy graduate John Stones. You could ask any Reds fans who has been to most games so far this season, this lad is without doubt the best talent the club has produced for many a year. Already capped for the England under 19's and linked with a big move to the Premier League, this lad seems to have everything you want from a right-back. Pace, strength, a good tackle in him and when he attacks, he attacks. For most of the season so far, the back four has consisted of Stones, veteran Stephen Foster, stand-in captain Scott Wiseman (who has made the transaction of right-back to centre-back) and left-back Scott Golbourne, who in my opinion is very akin to Ashley Cole with his tackling as well as his forward play and crossing."

"Overall, despite a couple of blips, our defence has looked quite strong during the course of the season but the only thing that hinder them is the pressure they put on themselves and that could bring problems against a side of Huddersfield's calibre. Also, back between the sticks will be fan favourite Luke Steele, who has recently regained his place from Ben Alnwick after 6 months of injury hell. Call me deluded or whatever but I think Steele is one of the best goalkeepers, if not the best, in this league."
 
"For my prediction, I could call this two ways. It will all depend on who gets the first goal and at which time. My heart says 2-2. My head says 1-0 to the Terriers."

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Church Joins Terriers On Loan

Simon Church has today completed a loan signing from Premiership side Reading to Championship side Huddersfield Town. The terriers announced the news this morning after fresh rumours surfaced again yesterday from Sky Sports. The loan move is something Church has been wanting since the summer and although it is just for a month, Church is happy to finally have the chance of first team football;

"I have been waiting since the start of the season to go out on loan; I knew that my chances at Reading were going to be limited this year. I worked hard and did well in pre-season, but I knew it was going to be difficult. It has been frustrating, especially as I knew that Huddersfield was interested. It has been a case of just waiting until I was let out and now that I am here, I can't wait to get going."

"I am not really sure what the hold-up was. I think my contract may have been an issue and also the fact that Reading wanted me around to provide cover. An opportunity never fell my way and I am happy that I have been allowed out and have a chance to play."

Church has an abundance of experience at the Championship level after playing a vital role for Reading lasts season when they successfully gained promotion into the top tier;

"I know what this League is all about. I have got plenty of experience at this level and obviously got promoted with Reading last year when we won the title. There are a lot of good, youthful experienced players in the squad and I am hopeful that I will be able to add to that and play my part. All I want to do is play football; I have played reserve games at Reading this season and played for Wales, but that isn't the same as playing week in, week out at senior level. It is a great standard of football in the Championship and playing in it is something I want to play doing on a weekly basis."

Church then revealed that fellow loanee Sean Morrison had spoken to him about Huddersfield Town before he signed on the dotted line to agree the one month loan;

"I spoke to Sean before I left and he loved it up here. He said a lot of good things about the Manager, the Club, the players and the fan base. I have been watching Town's results during the course of the season and they have done really well. Hopefully I can come in and help them continue that."

"I have kept myself very fit and strong and know that I am ready to play whenever I am given the chance. Hopefully I will get the nod on Saturday and help the team to a victory."

Town fans may well see the striker in action on Saturday as James Vaughan remains a huge doubt as he continues with an injury. Beckford is also a doubt but Grayson has stated he may well be back on Saturday. We expect Church to start on the bench as Novak & Beckford partner each other upfront.

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Church On His Way To Huddersfield?

Simon Church is reportedly on his way to The John Smiths Stadium to join Huddersfield Town on a temporary/emergency loan as the striker looks for a way out from Reading. Church has appeared just once for The Royals this season and after failing to secure a move anywhere in the summer, he may well join the terriers even though multiple Championship clubs have shown interest in the 23 year old striker.

Simon Grayson has been keen on Church since he guided Huddersfield Town into The Championship but a move never occurred as Grayson managed to get James Vaughan on loan for an entire season. However, Vaughan has missed the last two league matches through injury and it seems like bad news is around the corner for the Norwich city striker especially if the Church move has been revitalised.

Sky Sports News have reportedly stated that the Church move is poised to happen and the news has been received well by Huddersfield Town fans who believe he would be a very good addition to the squad.









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Novak Expresses Delight After Double Strike

Lee Novak battled through the pain barrier as he took to the field even though he had missed training all week due to an illness. The striker looked as fit as a fiddle and he netted twice for the terriers to gain a respectable point against Blackburn Rovers at The John Smiths Stadium. Both of Novak's goals were scrappy ones but his second was deep into stoppage time and one which the striker enjoyed very much;

"I just challenged the keeper and luckily it bounced back and went in. The point is massive, but I thought we deserved a bit more really; I wasn't sure if it was a penalty for their second goal, but sometimes these decisions don't go your way. Luckily we got the equaliser in the last minute."

"We were a bit gutted about the penalty, but the Gaffer showed his intentions from the sidelines and brought 'Big Al' on, who I thought was magnificent when he came on. He also pushed 'Clayts' in there with us, who I thought was brilliant all game. With the wide men and central midfielders we have, we are always going to create chances and thankfully the one at the end went in. It was hard work, but I'll run until I can't run any more. I'm just glad that we got two goals and that we got a point after being behind for so long."

The Town fans which stayed until the very end were rewarded by Novaks second goal and Lee mentioned the crowd last night in his post match interview;

"The fans have been unbelievable all season, but they came out in their numbers tonight and were brilliant. They stayed right until the end and I'm glad we could reward them with the equaliser. Jordan Rhodes got a good reception as well, which he deserved. It was weird to see him lining up for the other team in the tunnel actually! I told him before the game I was going to kick him, but I never got near him! We're still best of mates and I'm glad he's doing well there, but we have to move on. I've outscored him tonight, so I'll be ringing him tomorrow!"

Lee Novak took his goal tally to four for the season with his brace last night and although he performed tremendously well, their is no guarantee he will be in the starting line-up for the game against Barnsley on Saturday;

"I think we've got four good strikers here and whichever two play, they know the other two aren't far behind them and can come in. Jermaine Beckford and James Vaughan are brilliant strikers, but so is Alan Lee and we all want to do the best for the Club."

Novak will travel with the terriers on their short journey to the Oakwell Stadium on Saturday and he was happy to announce that the whole dressing room is buzzing after his late goal;

"To get an equaliser against Blackburn in the last minute is a big lift, so we'll go into Saturday with a lot of confidence. The dressing room is buzzing now, it feels like a win. Hopefully my lip is sorted by then! The fans will come in their numbers for a local derby and we want to go there and get three points."

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Grayson: 'Full Credit To The Players'

Simon Grayson watched his side battle hard and snatch a last minute point against Blackburn Rovers last night when Novak bundles home a stoppage time equaliser. The terriers took the lead through Lee Novak before Jordan Rhodes equalised for the visitors just before the half time interval. Rovers were then awarded a rather dubious looking penalty from the referee which Murphy slotted home to give his side a one goal lead. However, in the dying seconds of the game it was Lee Novak who popped up to get his brace and send the home fans away with a smile on their faces.

Simon Grayson spoke highly of his team in what may prove to be a vital point come the end of the season;

"The lads are buzzing. It always feels like that when you snatch a last gasp draw. Full credit to the players, they kept going and showed a fantastic desire to get something out of the game, which I thought we deserved."

The talking point of the game was when Olssen went down after a superb challenge by Lynch only for the referee to award a penalty and Grayson expressed his thoughts on the officials decision;

"A decision like that can change a teams seasons, in my opinion he got it wrong. Sometimes when players come together like that you have to look at where the ball ends up. On that occasion if the Blackburn lad had the last touch on the ball it would have gone near the corner flag, which it didn't."

"It is testament to the players that they reacted positively. The decision if anything galvanised them. The fans played a part and got behind the team and we had players on the pitch that caused the opposition problems. Big Alan and Lee were a handful together and we were positive in everything that we did."

Lee Novak's brace was the strikers first goals at home for the current season and they became even more impressive when Grayson stated that the striker was feeling under the weather and hadn't trained all week;

"Lee hasn't trained since Saturday, but we patched him up and he declared himself fit. He worked extremely hard as the lone striker in the first half and he reaped the rewards. He probably won't score two more scrappy goals in his career, but you have to be there to put them away. We have got some tired bodies in the changing room and a few players with some knocks, but we will patch them up and get ready for the weekend. Tonight feels like a victory because of the manner that we did it in."

Huddersfield Town came up against Jordan Rhodes for the first time since his club record transfer of £8m to Blackburn Rovers. The striker looked good last night, if not better than what he was at Town & he grabbed Rovers first goal of the night to bring his side back into the game;

"You know what you are going to get with Jordan, he has fantastic goalscoring ability. We switched off for 30 seconds in the first half and he punished us, just like he did many times during his time here. It was inevitable that he would score."

Grayson finished his post match interview in traditional fashion with an update on why both Beckford & Vaughan missed out on the game last night as well as how fit they both are;

"Jermaine Beckford was close tonight and hopefully he won't have any more reactions to his injury ahead of the weekend. Hopefully he will train Thursday and Friday and be available for selection on Saturday. James Vaughan has had a scan and we will see what the results are of that over the next couple of days, hopefully that will give us a clearer indication of where he is at for the weekend."

Huddersfield travel to struggling Championship side Barnsley on Saturday and are expected to take over 3000 fans in an effort to make the difference in the Yorkshire derby.

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Match Report: Huddersfield Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers

Huddersfield Town hosted Lancashire club Blackburn Rovers under the floodlights at The John Smiths Stadium on a cold, cold night. Rhodes received a warm welcome back home by the Town faithful who were in high spirits coming into the game on the back of yet another Championship win against Bristol City at the weekend. However, spirits were dampened as Simon Grayson named yet another starting XI & bench without the names of Beckford & Vaughan included.

Town Team: Smithies, Dixon, Clarke, Lynch, Woods, Scannell, Southern, Norwood, Clayton, Hammill, Novak.

Town Bench: Bennett, Gerrard, Ward, Wallace, Arfield, Lee, Robinson.

The game was started well by the visitors who had ex-Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes in their starting lineup. It was that man who was immediately involved for Rovers as he headed a long ball down into the path of Rochina who forced Smithies into a save with a sizzling volley. Rochina soon had another shot on goal just five minutes later before Peter Clarke throw his body in the way to deflect the goal threat out for a corner. From the resulting corner the terriers could well of gone a goal down as Rochina's ball in was met with a well connected header by Dann but he missed the target completely. Warning signs were already flashing for Graysons men with just seven minutes on the clock.

Rovers had made a fast start to the game yet were caught out with a sublime cross by Huddersfield Town midfielder Oliver Norwood. The youngster has been impressing scouts all season and he grabbed another assist when a superb delivery into the box wasn't dealt with by the Blackburn defence and Novak took full advantage by prodding home from close range.

The visitors looked to get themselves back on level terms straight away but Smithies was on hand to palm away a low effort from Rochina in the seventeenth minute. The game then started to settle down but both teams kept the high tempo with which they had started the game with in what was starting to be a exciting game.

Keith Southern tried his luck with twenty-seven minutes on the clock but former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was up to the challenge and saved well low down. The ball was then back up into the terriers half but possession was soon wasted by Rovers as Olsson tried a spectacular effort which ended up with the ball going flying well over the bar.

Although Rovers were a goal down they were creating some good half chances especially through Rochina who tried his luck yet again from the edge of the area but failed to test Smithies. Blackburn Rovers then started to sit back a little and invited pressure onto themselves as the terriers pushed to double their lead.

However, with just three minutes until the break the second goal of the game was scored by that man Jordan Rhodes. A long ball over the top of the Huddersfield defence saw Rhodes break the offside trap. The Scotland international controlled the ball with a neat touch before finishing past Alex Smithies to bring Blackburn Rovers level. A small celebration from Rhodes followed.

Half Time: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

The second half began and just two minutes in Huddersfield could well of retaken their lead. Scannell held the ball well before a clever back heel released Paul Dixon who charge to the byline before driving a cross across the face of goal. Novak reached for the ball but it had just too much pace on it for the striker to tuck it away for his second in the game.

Town had started the second half the better team and Novak maybe should of punished Rovers after Norwood played the ball through for him but the striker couldn't get his shot away as Blackburn players scrambled back to clear the ball from danger. Three minutes later the game was turned on its head as the referee judged Lynch to have fouled Olsson in the box. It looked very much lie a poor dive but a penalty was given and Murphy made no mistake from the spot to give his team a rather debatable lead.

The terriers were now up against it as Grayson immediately introduced a double substitution by bringing on both Ward & Lee for Hammill & Norwood. Huddersfield started to press heavily as Ward got himself into the box before a last ditch challenge denied him a shooting opportunity.

Huddersfield continued to press and were looking promising but time was slowly starting to run out as the night grew darker at The John Smiths Stadium. In the 79th minute it looked as if Novak was through on goal as a neat knock on from Lee released the striker in behind the Rovers back line. However, Novak was judged to have strayed fractionally offside by the linesman who immediately raised his flag.

A free kick was then Towns next opportunity to grab an equaliser with ten minutes to play. Danny ward lined the set piece up but his fierce drive was off target. The clock was ticking rapidly now for the terriers and the home fans were urging their side forward. Novak crossed only for Sean Scannell to narrowly miss the goal with a diving header. Alan Lee then got up to head at goal just minutes later but Robinson managed to claw the ball out of the six yard box and another chance went begging for Huddersfield Town.

The game looked over for Huddersfield Town as the 94th minute appeared on the large screen but things were far from over. The terriers pressure finally paid off as Novak smashed home for his second of the game to send the home fans wild. Huddersfield deserved the draw after a poor display from the referee nearly gifted all three points to the visitors in a truly entertaining game.

Full Time: Huddersfield Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers

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Rhodes: 'I Owe Everything To Huddersfield Town'

Jordan Rhodes returns to The John Smiths Stadium tonight along with Blackburn Rovers to face his old club, Huddersfield Town. Its the first time the Scotland international will have returned to play at the home of the club which made him who is he today. No longer playing in the blue & white stripes of the terriers, Rhodes returns with five goals already under his belt at his new club along with a £8m price tag to live up to. The striker spoke highly of Huddersfield Town today in an interview;

"I owe them everything."

"I think that is quite right in saying. I have a lot of thanks and gratitude towards Ipswich for my foundation in football, but I left at a young age and the Huddersfield chairman, Dean Hoyle, was fantastic. I owe him a great deal, and Lee Clark and Simon Grayson for the help they gave me over the three years."

"I had many a good time there and it was a great way to round it off by getting promoted last year. I think as a man it was time to leave to better myself."

"I learned things at Huddersfield that I would never have got if I had stayed at Ipswich and I feel as if I will learn things at Blackburn that I would not get at either of the first two clubs. I think it is a matter of developing as a player. I still have age on my side and it is a matter of improving and learning for years to come."

One question which has been circulating around both sets of fans ahead of tonight's game is...Will Rhodes celebrate if he scores tonight?

"I would like to think I would not celebrate."

"I would like to pay my due respects to the club and the people that have been faithful to me for those three years. I will try and go in with that mentality. However, if it is a last-minute winner I might get carried away. I don't think any goal celebration is to disrespect the opposition. It is to celebrate the team's achievements."

Rhodes thanked the Town faithful for the way he has been treated over his last three years as a terrier both on & off the field;

"People have just wished me the best and thanked me for what I had done. I think people knew I had to leave in the end just to further myself. There were two or three real heart-felt letters sent to me; that was really special. I will write back to them once my house is all sorted."

"If selected I will try and give it my best shot and remain calm and composed. It is like any other game. I will just treat it as level-headed as I can. I understand if there is a bit of banter towards me, that is understandable. It will be different going back there, but it was inevitable. It was a fixture that was always going to happen when I moved to Blackburn Rovers. It is a fixture I won't treat any differently."

It was revealed by Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson that Rhodes still visits the Town training camp to play snooker etc earlier on this week and the young striker was keen to comment on the close relations which he still has at the club. This included Lee Novak & Alan Lee who both partnered Rhodes upfront last season when Rhodes grabbed a total of 40 goals;

"Lee Novak and Alan Lee are really good friends. I know Alan and his wife Catherine really well and we go out for meals on Saturday nights, even still. Lee and his girlfriend Danielle, we have been out with them many times too, so I know them both well on and off the field. I think both already want my shirt!"

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Pre Match Analysis: Blackburn Rovers

Key Player: Jordan Rhodes
Going back to his former club, all eyes will be on Rhodes. He appears to have taken the expectation of the £8m price tag well, scoring goals whenever he has had the opportunity. He has already scored 5 goals, 3 of which have come away from home.


Last Time Out: Crystal Palace 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (03/11/12)


Last Time We Met: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Huddersfield Town (2005/06)


Biggest League Victory This Season: Bristol City 3-5 Blackburn Rovers (15/09/12)


Biggest League Loss This Season: Crystal Palace 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (03/11/12)


Top Goalscorer: Jordan Rhodes (5)


Most Assists: Morten Gamst Pederson (4)


Form: DLDWWL <--most recent 


Score Prediction: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (Norwood, Clayton)

What To Expect From Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers are crossing over the border to take on Huddersfield Town in a match which will see the victor leapfrog the losing team in the league table. Both clubs are currently locked together on 23 points in The Championship which is something all Town fans should be proud of especially with Rovers making a rather decent start to their campaign after being relegated from the Premiership last season. We managed to get an insight into the Lancashire club along with what to expect from them in tomorrows game which will be played under the floodlights at The John Smiths Stadium. Nick Whittaker, a Rovers fan, provided us with this article;

"With a new manager looking to mark his stamp on Blackburn, Rovers fans will be hoping that it doesn't take him too long before we get our first win. Henning Berg's arrival has been met with different opinions (from Twitter) from Rovers fans. Personally, I'm delighted. He's won the Premier League, promotion and the League Cup with Rovers and he'll hopefully take us up again. His first game was not promising. A 2-0 defeat at Palace who were no doubt buoyed by the announcement of Ian Holloway as manager."

"He has however given Rovers fans lots of hope with his team selections. In goal, Rovers keeper is Paul Robinson - a clear fans favourite. He has had some dodgy performances in his past but Rovers fans love him. He's great with his banter from the fans and always applauds the opposition's fans."

"The defence has looked ok this season. After defending awfully all of last season, Rovers have kept more clean sheets this season than the whole of the last. Ok, we're in a lower league but it's still promising. Berg's arrival has seen youngster Adam Henley get a start over the experienced Bradley Orr - a smart move. Orr has unfortunately been subject to abuse from fans for his praise of Steve Kean, but his performances have always been ok. It's great to see young Henley make the step up, even though he had a torrid time against Palace."

"The midfield is our main weakness. The expensive duo of Dickson Etuhu and Danny Murphy have been disappointing. Murphy has lacked desire and seems to have not taken the step down a division seriously. Etuhu hasn't made a much better start either. When he goes forward he creates lots of defensive problems but unfortunately for Rovers, he rarely ventures past the halfway line. Morten Gamst Pedersen has been a great threat and if he plays he'll cause Huddersfield's defence a lot of worries, especially from his set pieces."

"The lack of speed and forward-thinking players is a huge worry for the fans, with the strikers often isolated up front on their own. Berg's arrival did see the Simon Vuckevic back in the team. A player brought in by Kean but the Scot rarely played him. He's a tricky winger and will hopefully play a part this week."

"Up front, Rovers have been strong. Rhodes has become an instant hit scoring with almost every opportunity he has had, which have been few and far between due to the poor midfield. His partner will probably be Colin Kazim-Richards. I personally don't like him. He appears arrogant and this was proven when stealing the ball off Rhodes to take (and miss) a penalty against Watford. If not Richards, then (hopefully) Nuno Gomes will partner Rhodes. His experience will become key for Rhodes to make it to the big time. He oozes class and has chipped in with 5 goals."

"Our start to the season has been poor, despite our position in the league. Rovers fans are continuously getting bad reputation for complaining on talk shows. Now Kean has gone there is a renewed sense of optimism for the first time under Venkys. Our away support has been fantastic. In previous seasons in the Premier League, our support on the road has been poor but Rovers fans have continuously taken over 1000 fans. This may not sound a lot to you, but when we're only averaging 13,000 at home, this is a great amount of support."

"Being in the Championship is what I expected. Huddersfield's start is highly commendable, especially without Rhodes. I reckon it'll be a great game with the home side probably getting the win. Hopefully for Rovers, Berg will get his first win under control."

We would like to thank Nick Whittaker for giving us a great insight into how things are going for Blackburn Rovers this season. Although he predicts the terriers will come out with all three points we believe it all depends on if our main strikers, Beckford & Vaughan, are fit enough to play. If they are then a victory may well be on the cards. If they are not then we may struggle with no real 'Championship' class up front to threaten their defence.

What's your opinion? Comment in the space provided below this article

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Norwood Unphased By Rhodes Return

Oliver Norwood has just received yet another call up to the Northern Ireland squad today but will he has a few tough tests to face for Huddersfield Town first before going off on international duty. The midfielder will welcome back former team mate Jordan Rhodes as Blackburn Rovers visit The John Smiths Stadium on Tuesday night with both teams locked on the same points in the league. However, Norwood is unphased by the return of £8m striker Rhodes who is still visiting the Huddersfield players regularly at their training camp;

"I suppose all the talk will be about Jordan coming back, but it's not important to us. Jordan chose to go his way and we wish him all the best, but we've done well without him, and it won't be a distraction. Saturday's results mean we're level on points with them, and now we want to go above them."

"We've generally played well against the sides who are up there with us, and while we weren't at our best against Bristol City, we got the victory we wanted."




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Scannell Thanks The Fans

Sean Scannell scored his first goal for Huddersfield Town on Saturday and he played tribute to the fans that came to watch him earn his place in the starting XI. The winger has struggled to make his mark for the terriers since joining in the summer but he finally caught the managers eye with a sterling performance capped off with a first half goal. Scannell spoke to the official website after the Bristol City match;

"It's ended up being a good game, but to be fair it was a bit scrappy. I'm just happy that we've got the 1-0 win and it's nice to score; hopefully that can help to keep me in the first team. It was a really hard game and like I said it ended up being really scrappy. They had a few chances to score, but I thought we defended really well to keep the clean sheet and get the win."

"I know we have a lot of good players – we've had a couple injured today like Beckford and Vaughany but if I keep training hard, hopefully I can keep myself in the team."

Scannell's first goal in blue & white colours came from one of the best passing moves of the game with Clayton feeding the ball to Novak before the striker crossed for Scannell to prod the ball home at the back post; 

"It was a real piece of quality from 'Clayts' to set the move running and then it was a great delivery from Novak, but someone has to be there to put the ball in the net otherwise his cross goes out for a throw-in! I'm glad that I've got off the mark now; hopefully more will follow now."

The Croydon born winger/striker finished off his interview by thanking Town fans for their support up to now and throughout the Bristol City game;

"I thought the fans were quality. To be fair I love the fans here; they've really welcomed me and it feels like home already. I'd like to thank the fans for making me feel like that."

Scannell will be hoping that his performance & goal is enough to get himself into the starting XI for the game against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night when the terriers welcome home Jordan Rhodes for the first time since his £8m move from Huddersfield Town in the summer.

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Grayson Happy With All Three Points

Simon Grayson watched his side struggle against Bristol city but come out looking pretty with all three points as a single Scannell goal was the difference between the two teams. With a woeful performance from both sides, Grayson was forced to make four changes to his team after the heavy defeat against Millwall but it paid dividend as the terriers moved up to the table into seventh. Here is what Simon had to say about the game;

"You have to be able to win football matches in a number of different manners and today was one of those days. We didn't play the fluid football that we are capable of doing, but we got the goal and grinded it out. I thought we were better in the second half and passed it with more of a purpose; if we had been slightly more ruthlessly we could have scored a couple more. In the end we were indebted to Alex for making a couple of good saves."

"They were throwing bodies forward in the closing stages and Alex showed how good a goalkeeper he is by keeping his concentration levels high and making the save from Stephen McManus. We knew it was going to be a tough afternoon and we knew that we had to give the crowd something to shout about. It is a two way thing and we have to give them something to get excited about. We know that we can pass the ball better and our goal was our best passing move of the game. It was nice to see Sean Scannell getting into the box and he finished well."

Grayson named Scannell in the starting lineup and the winger failed to disappoint the manager with a neat finish which completed a very neat passing move. Grayson paid tribute to Scannell in his post match interview;

"He was lively today. I was impressed with the way that he played on Monday night in the Under-21 game and we have been trying to get him a little bit fitter over the last couple of weeks. The lad has got a lot of ability and he could have been a little bit more ruthless, but that is Scanz for you. He can do things that other players can't do and with that he will, on occasion, make a bad decision."

After two heavy league losses in a row it got worse for Huddersfield Town before the game when Grayson named his starting XI as well as his bench without both Vaughan & Beckford in either. He explained the situation on both of his strikers;

"Jermaine picked up a hamstring strain in training and James Vaughan suffered a reoccurrence of his injury on Friday while he was doing his fitness test. We played a formation today which was to allow Scannell, Adam Clayton and Adam Hammill the opportunity to get forward. You can't fault the endeavour of the players, they worked their socks off."

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