Huddersfield Preview

The injuries are beginning to creep in. David Berehall, Darren Sheridan, Matty Appleby, Chris Killen, Josh Low and Lee Duxbury have all faced niggles and injuries and still, Appleby is sidelined for this one. The rest though, Duxbury's
improvement being the most encouraging and surprising, look to be fit. This game has more meaning to Dowie than anyone though. The full story never really came out from the club as to why former Latics manager Mick Wadsworth left in May and therefore they may be some unsavioury and scrupulous chants tomorrow from idiots who have made their own minds up.


One suggestion was that Mr Dowie could have been wanted elsewhere, as Moore's comments on Wadsworth leaving stated "this was always the plan but it has happened a lot sooner than anyone imagined." Was Moore's hands forced and thus Wadsworth being asked to step up to the boardroom was turned down, as it was when Ritchie got offered it? I suspect so.

In my eyes, Wadsworth deserves a warm welcome tomorrow. The only problem is that too much pride is at stake to lose tomorrow - how would Dowie feel to be defeated? What price would relegation placed Wadsworth and his side put on a win at Boundary Park? And throw in one final piece to the jigsaw... We now have ex-Terriers striker Clyde Wijnhard upfront. Wiggy, almost died in a car crash when playing for Huddersfield and the club stuck by him. However relegation to division 2 has meant Wiggy's wages couldn't be afforded. I imagine that 2nd placed top scorer of division 2 has a bit of a hate mob in the white rose camp as they might feel he turned his back on them.

And as mentioned - they are the white roses. We are the red. This game has the makings of match of the season. The price is high and for the Latics it could be the highest - a win could take us top. If you stop and think for a moment though, despite Huddersfield being 4th from bottom, this will be no easy game.
They've had some pretty horrendous defeats, most notably a 1-0 home loss when Luton scored in the 90th minute. Suggestions are that their performances have no rewarded them with the right results. And thus, on a day when it is
win at all costs, tomorrow will see the Terriers giving no inch - the Latics will have to break them down.

It will be a cautionary affair which some silly Latics fans think we will walk all over them. I think not. If we win, it'll be the hard fought way - don't forget, the last physical side to come to Boundary Park beat us - Wycombe. we don't like a tough fight, but admittedly we are becoming more accustomed to it. It'd be nice to rack up 4 against them, but it won't happen unless we score early. Then the floodgates may open. I just hope we don't lose.

Team News - Latics

Currently, Low, Duxbury, Berehall and D.Sheridan are racing to be fit, but I suspect they will make it. Killen should also be back after playing a reserve game on Monday, but I've said this all along - I can't see him being pitched straight in. Corazzin has played very well and is a perfect link up man alongside either Wijhnard or Killen and thus to change it at present would be silly. If it isn't broke, there's nothing to fix. Therefore, if all pass fitness tests then there should be only 1 change from last Saturday.

That change will see Carss, who filled in for Appleby last Saturday, replaced by Duxbury who I'd say is similar to Appleby and is better in the role than Carss. This will be the midfield strengthened, an area that we possibly lacked a little in last Saturday.

Team News - Huddersfield

Mick Wadsworth may recall striker Martin Smith after injury. He would replace either Andy Booth or Kevin Gallacher. Other than that it is the same bunch of youngsters that have so far seen the Terriers W2 D3 L5. However, encouragingly for them, they have managed 1 of those 2 wins on the road.

MATCH FACTORS:
Rivalry - This is a local rivalry. And with irony of all ironies, our last game of the season is at the McAlpine Stadium where if we're still challenging, Mick Wadsworth could have a say in things. But for now it is Red Rose vs White
Rose, Current Latics manager vs Former Latics Manager and Current Latics Forward (Wijhnard) vs His Former Defence that he probably trained with. This is a derby which could either be explosive, or so tight, that it'll be an anti-climax.


The points - At this present stage, both sides are desperate for the points. The Latics hope to go top as they currently stand fourth (1pt off 1st) behind Cardiff (home vs Crewe), QPR (home vs Colchester) and Wigan (away vs Barnsley).
The Terriers meanwhile sit 4th from bottom and will be desperate to kick start their poor season.

The records - The Latics are looking to make it 6 wins on the bounce. That is unbelievable for most, myself included, to contemplate. And if we can negoiate this little fixture, then Swindon, Port Vale and Luton follow and I would class
those sides all as beatable. But let's not look too far ahead. The bubble could burst tomorrow.

The expectation - Dowie & Latics fans expect to win. Wadsworth & the Terriers probably hope to get something if they're lucky. The bookies have us a red hot favourites to win. Are they mad - haven't derby matches taught them one thing - they never go to plan?