Tilson curses bad luck as Terriers take the points

Last updated : 14 December 2008 By Shrimpers24

Lee Clark will be a happy man when he takes over as manager of Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The former Norwich City assistant boss was in the stands at Roots Hall to see his new charges make it five wins in six games thanks to an Ian Craney's goal after 49 minutes.

The midfielder netted after Michael Collins sent in a low cross from the left byline, Francis at fault, again, and the ball went past a stationary Steve Mildenhall and Craney tapped into the open goal from four yards for his sixth of the season.

Southend should have equalised from the penalty spot eight minutes from time after Kevin Betsy was brought down by Robbie Williams.

But substitute striker James Walker hit a daisycutter of a spot-kick which keeper Alex Smithies easily saved to ensure back-to-back wins for the Terriers.

The first half provided little goalmouth action as both teams struggled to create decent chances.

Huddersfield's five-man midfield made it difficult for Southend to find a route to goal.

Their best openings came early on when Alex Revell's cross-cum-shot was saved by Smithies at the foot of his left post, while Franics Laurent headed over from six yards out from a Betsy cross.

After surviving those early attempts, the Terriers had their hosts on the back foot. Craney capitalised on poor defending by Simon Francis but shot wide when he should have done better.

Williams then beat Francis on the left but saw his shot smothered by goalkeeper Mildenhall at the near post.

Three minutes after the restart Huddersfield were in front. Michael Collins sent in a low cross from the left byline. The ball went past a stationary Mildenhall and Craney tapped into the open goal from four yards.

But the goal brought the Shrimpers back to life and they came close to equalising on the hour when good work by Francis and Betsy on the right teed up Laurent, but the forward saw his shot go inches wide of the left post with Smithies beaten.

Williams fired a 35-yard free-kick straight at Mildenhall, before Smithies denied the Blues an equaliser when he tipped over an Adam Barrett header from Rob Milsom's right-wing free-kick.

However, the Blues' best chance came from the penalty spot, but that went begging with Walker's miss.

Tilly said after the match: "We dominated the second half and missing the penalty at the end caps it off. Huddersfield played well in the first half, but their goalkeeper was in inspired form. We now have a big game at Hartlepool next Friday, but at the moment getting into the play-offs is difficult. We have players coming in and out all the time and we really need to pick up some points over the Christmas period."

The bright spot for the home fans was the return of Freedman and Barnard to match action, Dougie was creating openings with his intellegent running off the ball from the moment he came on, and if these two can remain fit the season may not be over.

Coca-Cola League One, Saturday, 13th December 2008 @ 15:00; Roots Hall
Click for Southend United squad list
Craney 48
Click for Huddersfield Town squad list
Starting Line-ups
1Mildenhall 7
23Harding 7
2Francis 4
33Milsom 6
5Clarke 6
6Barrett 6
35Stanislas (Barnard 84)6
21Betsy 5
8McCormack 6
26Laurent (Freedman 61)6
11Revell (Walker 74)6
Substitutes
15Sankofa
7Grant
9Barnard (Stanislas 84)
10Walker (Revell 74)
16Freedman (Laurent 61)7
12Goal Attempts5
7On Target2
5Off Target3
0Hit Woodwork0
1Offsides6
4Corners2
17Fouls16
Starting Line-ups
28Smithies 7
18Butler 6
6Clarke, N 6
22Berrett 6
11Goodwin 6
17Roberts (Kamara 90)6
5Craney 7
4Collins (Clarke, T 84)6
2Holdsworth 6
16Williams 6
9Cadamarteri 6
Substitutes
27Glennon
12Clarke, T (Collins 84)
8Worthington
15Kamara (Roberts 90)
14Jevons
Referee
D Phillips, West Sussex 7
Attendance
8382
Southend Utd. Cards
Milsom16unsporting behaviour
McCormack63unsporting behaviour
Huddersfield Cards
Craney50unsporting behaviour
Goodwin86unsporting behaviour