[Grimois]

Huddersfield Town Vs Leeds United
John Smiths Stadium
12.30pm Saturday 31 January 2015

This is always a tricky match thread to write, as it’s difficult for a Town fan to maintain objectivity and balance when it comes to facing Leeds United. I will do my best, but make no promises.

Town come into the game in not bad form, with 3 wins and a draw in our last 5 games, including an impressive win over Watford in our last home game. This was followed by a spirited defeat away at Man City slaying Middlesborough, and then a turgid 1-0 away win at Wigan, proving the old adage that it’s often better to “win ugly” as opposed to losing valiantly.

Leeds, for their part, may just be turning their own corner, having beaten Bournemouth impressively last time out,  with their last 5 league games reading LLDDW, with a narrow away defeat in the Cup to Sunderland sandwiched in the middle. All this despite their off-field turmoil, with owner Massimo Cellino being forced to resign as chairman by the FA (old ground which I do not intend to cover here).

So, before I go into the game itself, I thought I’d look at the issues at stake for the fans in what is likely to be the biggest game for both teams for the rest of the season.

For Huddersfield Town fans, there is the chance to avenge the away defeat suffered earlier this season, when Town visited Elland Road in September and were beaten 3-0 all too comfortably. Goals from Austin, Antenucci and Doukara were met with little resistance from Town, who failed to register a single shot on target in the match.

In addition there is the chance to get one over on their local rivals, with many Town fans resentful of what they perceive as a lack of respect, even arrogance, from their opposite numbers from LS11. All too often Leeds fans will play down the importance of this fixture to them, and many Town fans resent the implication that Leeds are more than a struggling Championship club. Ask 100 Leeds fans who their biggest rival in football is, and  it’s almost guaranteed more than half will say Man Utd, despite having been relegated from the top flight over a decade ago.

On the flip side, Leeds fans are, perhaps rightly, keen to point out that Town fans love to crow about having won the league 3 times in a row in the 1920s. There is no doubt we are a smaller club, with smaller (read “more realistic”?) ambitions, and perhaps they are miffed at having to play the likes of us instead of mixing it with the big boys week in- week out.

Either way, these are two clubs at the arse end of the Championship, and aside from all of the bragging rights at stake, both sides will see three points as a massive prize. Town will see those 3 points as a chance to broaden the gap between them (currently in 15th) and the relegation fodder beneath, whereas Leeds will know that if they lost they may be one more defeat away from the relegation zone, only having a 5 point gap between them (in 20th) and Millwall (in 22nd).

And so, to Saturday. Leeds have reinforcements in the form of defender Sol Bamba, formerly of Leicester, and midfielder Granddi Ngoyi, both on loan from Palermo until the end of the season, while Jason Pearce looks set to leave for Wigan.

Meanwhile, Town have continued their clear out, with former Leeds man Lee Peltier’s unsuccessful second spell coming to an end as he joined Cardiff City this week, while Martin Paterson joined Kaka at Orlando City on loan until the end of his contract. Added to the month’s previous departures, some relatively hefty wages are off the payroll, with a possible return north of the border for Dixon mooted too. At the time of writing, there is no firm indication of any incoming players before the weekend, but we all know that things can change quickly, so who knows? It certainly sounds like we’ve been having a sniff around, but there’s nothing concrete yet.

Likely line ups

One to Watch:

Mirco Antenucci is Leeds top scorer, and scored in the reverse fixture.  Town will be hoping that they can nullify his ability.



Last 5 meetings:

Championship Leeds 3-0 Huddersfield Sat 20 Sep 2014
Championship Leeds 5-1 Huddersfield Sat 1 Feb 2014
Championship Huddersfield 3-2 Leeds  Sat 26 Oct 2013
Championship Leeds 1-2 Huddersfield Sat 16 Mar 2013
Championship Huddersfield 2-4 Leeds  Sat 1 Dec 2012

Prediction:

In recent seasons both teams have shared the spoils with a win apeice and I see the same outcome here.  1-0 Town.

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, grim.
Looking at the amount of goals in the last five fixtures it beggars belief that once again Sky have ignored this one. But they always pick both clubs dreary matches against the Wendies.
Neither of us have much of a rivalry with Wendy but this one is Leeds's cup final.
There we go. Get the cup final nonsense in early.

[WakeyTerrier]

I can't wait, a bacon sarnie for breakfast washed down with a few beers should set me up nicely for the day.

---

I've just read that Pearce and Austin are set to leave Leeds for Wigan...hopefully before Saturday

[EastLondonTerrier]

The only huddersfield fan at my uni is myself and the only leeds fan is a good pal of mine so I'm praying we can win just to have bragging rights over one person. Byram looks a real talent for them as does mowatt, been given the lowdown on them quite well. If Tommy Smith is against byram I fear for our goals against column but we both agreed midfield is where this match is going to be won. Both teams have shaky defences although ours has shown a temporary better resolve. Expect a low-scoring draw, probably 1-1. Nakhi with ours.

[Lord Snooty]

Club saying they expect ticket sales to top 20000 by the end of today.

[theo_luddite]

Good read Grim.

Expecting same starting line up from Wigan, keeping it tight at the back to begin with. Hoping for a better game to watch tho' than Wendies(h)/Wigan(a)/Brum(h).

Has Redfearn got 24 hours before Cellino does his usual trick (calls up on a phone he doesn't own so it's hard to trace) and puts someone else in charge?

Usually plenty of goals anyway so should be a good game.

Travelling up tomorrow, so what's the snow like up there? Got a light dusting down here which will cause absolute chaos.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

The snow is random. Keep getting flurries preceded by those half stone "blizzards" that makes it stick. Fortunately we've had plenty of sun so it does keep clearing. You should be OK from tomorrow. I say should because it may well be the opposite of the forecast! You know what they're like.

---

Hail stone ^^^^

---

Or hale, I forget which!

[theo_luddite]

[WakeyTerrier]

plenty of ice knocking about this morning but precious little snow.

Starting to look forward to the game now, a few looseners tonight in the pub to warm up and in general slag the opposition club off from top to bottom and then onto the main event tomorrow.

I haven't got a clue which way this game will go, on paper you probably have to back us but our last 2 performances against the Dirtys haven't been good and the claim of "raising the game" in the West Yorkshire FA cup final seems to have flipped over to the dark side.

All I ask is they put 100% effort in, get at them and I think they will fold like a pack of cards. Get Scannell,Wells and Vaughan attacking the from the off and when they are knackered bring Bunn and a Lolley on to give them nightmares.

UTT!

[Lord Snooty]

What we need is to stop defending like dicks as we have in the last few matches with them.
Not even remotely over excited about this one. It's a bloody bind having to set off early for a home match just because we're playing a big club. Time WYP got some balls and stopped messing about with early kick offs.