Steve Mildenhall returned to the Southend goal as expected and Osei Sankofa played his first game for three months at right-back as Simon Francis moved into central defence.
In a game that showed both teams had not played for a while, it was played at the pace of a pre-season friendly at times, Huddersfield thought they had opened the scoring as early as the 11th minute when Antony Kay hit the bar with a header from a Gary Roberts corner.
From the rebound Jordan Rhodes seemed to have picked his spot but a great block by Anthony Grant saw the ball fly over the the top of Mildenhall's goal.
Blues top scorer Lee Barnard, who had scored four goals in his last six games against Huddersfield, continued to be the Shrimpers loan threat and twice fired wide from distance in the first half.
With nothing much else happening, Big Steve did well to parry a Lee Novak cross apart, the away side matching their fifth place opponents with their effort and passing, all looked well, until a minute before the break.
Gary Roberts got past Sankofa, who not surprisingly looked off the pace at times, striking a low, hard cross that allowed an unmarked Jordan Rhodes to place a firm shot that deflected off Grant with Mildenhall trying to keep the ball out, but in vain as it had clearly just gone over the line.
In the second period Blues not only matched the Terriers but outplayed them for small pockets of the half. Clearly outpassing them in that Tilly style but never really having any cutting edge.
Scannell had come close with a header from a corner minutes after the break, yet they never looked like scoring, until a certain former Everton trainee came on!
A deflected Novak shot had been saved by Mildenhall before that old set piece madness returned to haunt the Shrimpers and give Huddersfield what turned out to be a winning lead.
Anthony Pilkington's corner in the 62nd minute was met by a powerful Rhodes header, unmarked again, suicide for a man about to score his 17th of the season.
Captain Adam had been his usual strong presence at the back, marshalling his resources well, breaking down several Huddersfield attacks, but someone was to blame here?
Francis does his best at centre half, poor Sankofa was obviously not 100% ft and kept safe out wide on the right, he never went pass the first third let alone the half, yet the lack of a regualr central defensive colleague for Barrett clearly showed.
Theo Robinson came on to nearly provide Rhodes with a hat-trick, but the Town striker headed into Mildenhall's arms.
Tilly had decided, with only 13 minutes left, there was nothing to lose to bring on Spencer to make his debut, and what a start. Not quite Freddie standards, what ever would be, but it will do for now!
Scott Spencer had already showed plenty of work rate and vision when, in the 89th minute, he latched onto a lovely Francis pass which split the home defence, out-paced Clarkey, before finishing very confidently.
"Is this what the club is coming to, free transfers from Rochdale", said a guy behind me. If he continues like this, I'll have more!
A cheer came from the away end as four minutes of stoppage time was announced but in all honesty Blues hardly got in the opposition half, let alone close to an equaliser, as the final whistle brought another defeat on the road however well they competed.
Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 6, Sankofa - 5, Francis - 6, Barrett - 7, Malone - 6, Laurent - 6, Grant - 6 (Christophe 76 - 6), McCormack - 6, Moussa - 6, Scannell - 6 (Spencer 77 - 7), Barnard - 6 (Freedman 84).
| Coca-Cola League One, Saturday, 16th January 2010 @ 15:00; The Galpharm Stadium |
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| | Goal Attempts | | | 9 | On Target | 3 | | 3 | Off Target | 4 | | Hit Woodwork | | | 1 | Offsides | 2 | | 4 | Corners | 6 | | 6 | Fouls | 4 |
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| Referee | E Ilderton,
Tyne & Wear - 8 |
Attendance | | 14200 |
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| Huddersfield Cards | | (none) | | Southend Utd. Cards | | (none) |
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