HUDDERSFIELD Town travel to Essex to face in-form Colchester United this afternoon in a vital League One Game.
The U’s did Town a favour by holding Sheffield United to a draw in mid-week and Simon Grayson will be hoping his Terriers can capitalise on that result today.
New Loan signing Diego Arismendi from Stoke could make his debut for Town although Grayson will be without fellow midfielders Tommy Miller, Damien Johnson & Oscar Gobern.
Captain Peter Clarke could also return to the team alongside Gary Roberts, both have now fully recovered from Hernia surgeries as could help provide that final push that we need to catch second place.
Colchester will be no push-overs having taken four points from the top two clubs in recent weeks (3 against Charlton & 1 against Sheffield United)
Its going to be a cracker of a game thats for sure.
Vital Quotes: Simon Grayson
‘For Colchester to get a point against Sheffield United on Tuesday night was a good result for us – hopefully it will make us more focused on the challenge that awaits us,’
‘We have previously drawn a few games and we need to regain our focus and start winning matches. The players know what they need to do between now and the end of the season. Colchester are well organised and are managed by an experienced man in John Ward. They have two experienced and good strikers up front in Odejayi and Gillespie, but like every team in the League they can beat anyone, but are also very beatable. We will go there with a positive attitude and match their work rate and with the players that we have, we believe we can beat any team.’
‘Hopefully this week has allowed us to implement a few more of ideas, but the proof will be in pudding come the weekend. We are not looking to make drastic changes, it is more about reminders. No matter what level you are playing at you can do reminders on the training field – which sometimes the players take for granted. Footballers sometimes get into a way of playing and forget what made them the player they were initially.
‘We had a chat with the players on Monday and allowed them to speak up for themselves to find out the problems and issues that they can maybe address themselves. The mental side of the game is very important – as it is in any professional sport. Last Saturday we scored in the 44th minute and we should then do everything we can to not concede before half-time to make sure that we don’t give the opposition any encouragement. Sadly, we did concede and I think that had a bearing on what happened in the second-half.’
Colchester United Team News:
Martin Rowlands is the only absentee for Colchester (groin)
Ashley Vincent was an unused sub last week and is pushing for a recall.
Player to watch: Anthony Wordsworth
A dangerous midfield player with a keen eye for goal, he leads Colchester’s scoring charts with 11 goals this term
Huddersfield Town Team News:
Tommy Miller (Hernia)& Damien Johnson (Hamstring) & Oscar Gobern (Hamstring) all sidelined for Huddersfield.
Gary Roberts is pressing for a starting place as is Skipper Peter Clarke.
New loan signing Diego Arismendi is expected to get a debut, but could be from the bench.
Player to watch: Gary Roberts
‘Robbo’ is expected to start and he could be key for Town today.
Match Facts & Stats
Last meeting:
power League 1, Saturday 20 August 2011;
Huddersfield Town 3 (Jordan Rhodes 3, 59; Lee Novak 64) Colchester United 2 (Kayode Odejayi 5; Michail Antonio 27)
Match Prediction:
Colchester 1-2 Huddersfield
Next Fixtures: Huddersfield Town
Tue 20 Mar – Chesterfield (A) 19:45
Sat 24 Mar – Charlton (H) 15:00
Sat 31 Mar – Carlisle (A) 15:00
3 Points please!!