It's been very warm in Cape Town, reaching 34 on the third day of the recent test match.
We could have stayed another couple of days; no said I back last year when the trip was booked, Southend could have a big game, it's bad enough I'm missing the third round of the Cup.
There was no cup tie of course, in fact, no match missed at all! And now a trip to a freezing West Yorkshire against promotion favourites Huddersfield, yippee!
Southend could, er, catch them cold, but then again they've actually played before us!
The Terriers have become flat track bullies at home this season, not just happy with one goal wins but hammering some poor sides. I would certainly be happier to see Morrison or M'Voto lining up with Captain Adam but Sankofa let no one down before his injury.
The returning Mildenhall will have to be top of his game that's for sure and I expect Tilly to keep with the 4-5-1 that worked so well against Orient, though this is a far better team, with more attacking options.
Packing the midfield with the beef of Grant, Macca and Christophe looks a good bet, allowing Laurent and the Moose to show some creative touches out wide for Barney to hopefully feed off any slim pickings that may come his way.
Look on the bright side, we're only nine points off the top six.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Sankofa, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Christophe, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Barnard.
Subs: Joyce, Herd, O'Keefe, Scannell, Sankofa, Freedman, Walker.
OPPOSITION
Keeper Matt Glennon joined Bradford this week so Simon Eastwood should find himself warming the bench in case anything happens to first choice shot stopper Alex Smithies.
Present Blues player-of-the-year Peter Clarke will skipper the home side.
4 | Colchester United | 23 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 21 | 45 | +18 | ||||
5 | Huddersfield Town | 23 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 28 | 38 | +18 | ||||
6 | Swindon Town | 22 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 31 | 29 | 38 | +2 | ||||
7 | Millwall | 24 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 35 | 28 | 36 | +7 | ||||
8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 24 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 0 |
Last Time Out: F.A. Cup Third Round; Huddersfield Town 0 W.B.A. 2 (from sister site Huddersfield-MAD)
Midfielder Graham Dorrans netted his eighth goal of the season as West Bromwich Albion avoided a potential upset at Huddersfield. |
Dorrans - who is reportedly being courted by a host of Premier League clubs ahead of a potential move before the end of the January transfer window - netted the first in the 78th minute. |
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PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
This stadium was opened with three sides in 1995, the last stand being added a season later. The club previously played just down the road at the Leeds Road ground, now the site of a B & Q Superstore.
Most new stadiums in this country are rather boring affairs with little character, but the Galpharm does not fall into this category. Each stand is semi circular rather than rectangular, and is further enhanced with large white steel tubing above the contours. It's good to see something different from the architects for a change and the ground has won many design awards. The only disappointment is that the corners of the ground are open.
The Fantastic Media North Stand at one end and the Direct Golf UK (Riverside) Stand at one side are both two tiered stands, each with a row of executive boxes running across the middle. The other two sides of the ground are large single tiered affairs. There is an electric scoreboard at the back of the away end.
Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Pink Link (South) Stand, where up to 4,000 supporters can be accommodated. (Not a problem for us I think!) The facilities in this stand and the view of the playing action are both good. There is also a Ladbrokes outlet and a bar serving alcoholic drinks at the back of the stand, which if you can't bear to watch your team during the game, you can always escape to, as the bar remains open during the first half and half time.
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
Heavy rain and a cold three degrees.
The man in the middle is Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/144/1/eddie-ilderton
Postponed: Stockport v Oldham, Tranmere v Yeovil.
Tuesday, January 19th; (all kick-off 19.45): Charlton v Hartlepool, Huddersfield v Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient v Yeovil, Stockport v Swindon.
Wednesday, January 20th; Oldham v Tranmere, 19.45.
BET
To Win:
Huddersfield - 4/7, Draw - 3, Southend - 11/2.
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/huddersfield_town_450467/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking hostelries in Huddersfield, and we recommend you go to the Head of Steam in the station, go here:
HISTORY
In 1907, the Huddersfield Association Football Ground Co. was formed and, with capital of £500, set about purchasing the Leeds Road recreation fields. In the summer of 1908, Huddersfield Town AFC was launched and Leeds Road was officially opened on 2 September 1908 with a friendly against Bradford Par Avenue. Their first match in senior competition, on 5 September, was against South Shields Adelaide, wearing salmon pink shirts.
Huddersfield entered the Football League in 1910. In November 1919 a fund-raising campaign was needed to stave off a move to Leeds! Citizens of Huddersfield were asked to buy shares in the club of £1 each, and the club staved off the proposed merger. Remarkably, the team went on to reach the 1920 FA Cup Final and win promotion to Division One.
Town subsequently won the First Division Championship for three consecutive years 1923-24, 1924-25, and 1925-26. Herbert Chapman led them to the first two titles and then left to take over at Arsenal. Cecil Potter then took charge, to guide Huddersfield Town to their third consecutive First Division Championship. They were the first club to achieve this success.
After being losing finalists against Aston Villa they won the FA Cup 1-0 against Preston North End on 29 April 1922 at Stamford Bridge. They also won the Charity Shield in 1922. They were also the first team to score directly from a corner in a match in 1924.
Huddersfield Town played their 1,554th and final League game at the Leeds Road ground on 30 April 1994, beating Blackpool 2-1, watched by a near capacity crowd of 16,195. Huddersfield were still in the third tier of the English league when they moved from Leeds Road (now redeveloped into a retail park) into the new Alfred McAlpine Stadium (now called the Galpharm Stadium) for the 1994-95 season.
Huddersfield's league form during 2007-08 was inconsistent, leading to the departure of manager Andy Ritchie by 'mutual consent' towards the end of the season. Derby County assistant manager Stan Ternent was appointed as Ritchie's replacement. Ternent left the the club in November of the 2008-09 season however, and was replaced by Lee Clark, who led the team to a ninth place finish, missing out on the play-offs.