Huddersfield Town v Southend United

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

They've not got a bad squad, and Terriers boss Lee Clarke has a full one to pick from!

With no new injury problems or suspensions to deal with expect a similar side to the one that performed bravely in their 2-0 home defeat in the Cup to West Brom, the only time they've been beaten at the Galpharm Stadium since the Shrimpers did it, (1-0, Lee Barnard penalty), last April. (And we beat them 2-1 the season before that, Macca's last minute strike on the way to the play-offs, so we're on a hat-trick!)

In fact, they've only lost twice in their last ten games.

Midfielders Danny Drinkwater, on loan from Manchester United, and Tom Clarke, along with ex-Blue striker Theo Robinson and midfielder Tom Clarke all came on as substitutes in the second half against the Baggies, and will hope for a starting place.

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. And New Zealand international Chris Wood, fresh from signing a new deal with Albion last week, put the game beyond doubt four minutes later. Huddersfield have the best home record in the country and initially it was hard to determine which team was second in the Championship and which was from League One. But as the first-half progressed, five-time cup winners Albion became increasingly dominant and it was they who had the better chances. Dorrans had an glorious chance, but when Chris Brunt's cross fell to him unmarked and two yards out all he could do was scoop it over the bar. The quality of the play made neither side look worthy of their lofty league position, with Brunt the stand-out attacking player on the pitch and he went close with two long-range shots. After the break the game opened up with the Terriers at last forcing Scott Carson to make a save, diving at the feet of Gary Roberts. Marek Cech hit the post for the Baggies with a swivelling volley from the edge of box. Both sides, meeting for the first time in the FA Cup since a 1929 quarter-final, pushed forward eager to avoid a replay. And it cost Huddersfield dearly as, with the defence absent, Dorrans was released by Brunt and the Scotland international steered home his eighth goal of the season. West Brom are undefeated after scoring first this season and Brunt created another goal within five minutes, this time putting Woods through on goal and the substitute did the rest. Antony Kay came closest for Huddersfield with two minutes left but Carson saved well.

e.on-sponsored F.A. Cup, Saturday, 2nd January 2010 @ 15:00; Galpharm Stadium
Dorrans 77 Wood 82
Starting Line-ups 1 Smithies 2 Peltier (Drinkwater 78) 3 Skarz 5 Clarke, P 6 Clarke, N 4 Collins 7 Roberts (Robinson 85) 8 Kay 19 Pilkington 17 Rhodes 21 Novak (Clarke, T 58) Substitutes 9 Robinson (Roberts 85) 10 Simpson 12 Clarke, T (Novak 58) 18 Butler 25 Drinkwater (Peltier 78) 27 Glennon 28 Ainsworth	Goal Attempts 5 On Target 4 4 Off Target 7 Hit Woodwork 4 Offsides 2 8 Corners 7 7 Fouls 15	Starting Line-ups 19 Carson 3 Olsson 4 Cech 24 Martis 36 Jara 11 Brunt (Reid 88) 17 Dorrans 20 Teixeira (Koren 66) 21 Mulumbu 9 Bednar 31 Cox (Wood 75) Substitutes 1 Kiely 7 Koren (Teixeira 66) 14 Thomas 15 Wood (Cox 75) 16 Moore 18 Reid (Brunt 88) 33 Samuels
	Referee K Wright, Cambridgeshire Attendance 13472
	Huddersfield Cards (none) West Brom. Cards Brunt 45 unsporting behaviour

PREVIOUSLY

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)