[Lord Snooty]

Huddersfield Town  play Blackburn Rovers at the John Smith's Stadium on New Year's Eve (ko 12:30) and then travel to the DW Stadium to play Wigan Athletic on Monday the 2nd of Jan (ko 3:00).

A brief history of Blackburn Rovers: Founded in 1875, they were one of the original members of the Football League, therefore  a lot of their achievements happened early doors, ie 6 FA Cup Finals in the 19th century. Their greatest achievement of course was in the FA Cup in 1928 when they beat the massive favourites Huddersfield Town 3-1 at Wembley Stadium, with goals from Jack Roscamp (2) and Tommy McLean. Alex Jackson scored Town's goal.
And that's about it really. Some awards have been won recently. Nothing much of significance. Here's the list, have a look see if you can see owt worthy of a mention.

League
First Division/Premier League
Winners (3): 1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95
Runners-up (1): 1993–94
Football League Second Division/Football League Championship
Winners (1): 1938–39
Runners-up (2): 1957–58, 2000–01
Play-off winners (1): 1991–92
Football League Third Division/Football League One
Winners (1): 1974–75
Runners-up (1): 1979–80

Cups
FA Cup
Winners (6): 1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891, 1928
Runners-up (2): 1882, 1960
Football League Cup
Winners (1): 2002
FA Community Shield
Winners (1): 1912
Runners-up (3): 1928, 1994, 1995
Full Members Cup
Winners (1): 1987

European
UEFA Intertoto Cup
Winners (1): 2007 – Joint Winner


Head to Head




Rovers lead in the overall head to head with 32 wins to Town's 23, with 32 draws.

The last meeting of course, was only a few days ago, a much frustrating match which Town dominated but could only come away with a point. Kasey Palmer opened the scoring for Town, before Michael Hefele gave away a penalty which Danny Graham put away.
Last season Town won 2-0 at Ewood Park for the first time in donkey's years, with a Nahki Wells goal and a Matt Kilgallon own goal. The home game was drawn 1-1. Nahki again before Nathan Delfouneso equalised.

Maybe the most memorable meeting of the two clubs was back in 1992, when 3rd division Town almost beat the Premier League's top bollocks, Alan Shearer et al, over two legs. Have a look at this.




So what's new at Ewood Park? 

Managed nowadays by Owen Coyle, the former Dumbarton striker. He also won the Scottish First Division title as a player with Falkirk in 2003.

Notable players in their squad:- The most notable name is Danny Graham. He had a stellar career with Carlisle United, scoring 29 goals in 89 games. But like so many before him, he chose to ignore a transfer request from Huddersfield Town and his career stagnated as he chose to go to Watford instead. From there he went to Premier League Swansea and then Sunderland where he had the club's worst scoring record for a striker (1 goal in 37 apps) since Jon Stead (2 goals in 35 apps).

Their line up at Barnsley on Boxing Day was:

1 Steele
24 Nyambe
30 Brown
26 Lenihan
5 Williams
32 Conway
21 Akpan
14 Mulgrew
19 Gallagher
12 Graham
17 Emnes

Substitutes
3 Greer
7 Feeney
23 Guthrie
28 Mahoney
29 Evans
31 Bennett
33 Raya  

Darragh Lenihan was sent off in this match so will be unavailable for the Town match.

AND THEN WE GO TO WIGAN

A brief history of Wigan Athletic: Formed in 1932, they weren't elected to the Football League until 1978, replacing Southport. Remarkably for such a piss pot of a club, they reached the dizzy heights of the Premier League in 2005 and stayed there for 8 years and in that time they won the FA Cup in 2013, beating Manchester City 1-0 with a goal from Ben Watson.
If they can do it, why the hell can't we?

League
Football League Championship (English second tier)
Runners-up (1): 2004–05
Football League Second Division/Football League One (English third tier)
Winners (2): 2002–03, 2015–16
Football League Third Division (English fourth tier)
Winners (1): 1996–97
3rd – Promoted (1): 1981–82

Cups
FA Cup
Winners (1): 2012–13
League Cup
Runners-up (1): 2005–06
FA Community Shield
Runners-up (1): 2013
Football League Trophy
Winners (2): 1984–85, 1998–99


Head to Head




Town lead in the overall head to head with 12 wins to Wigan's 8, with 7 draws.

Another one that we played recently and another one that we owe a damn jolly good spanking to. They embarrassed us at the JSS in front of the Sky cameras, beating us 2-1. Reece Burke opened the scoring for Wigan, before Aaron Mooy equalised in the second half. Then some calamitous defending saw Yanic Wildschut put the Latics back in front.
The most memorable match against Wigan was............. well no there haven't been any. All games involving Wigan Athletic are dull, dull, dull. Why Sky chose to come and televise our match the other week, God only knows. Dull, dull, bloody dull.


So what's new at the DW? 

Managed nowadays by Warren Joyce, the former Manchester United reserves coach. As a player, he played for Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, Plymouth Argyle, Burnley and Hull City.



Notable players in their squad:- The most notable name is Jussi Jääskeläinen. Now aged 41, he played in goal 474 times for Bolton Wanderers, before going to West Ham Utd. He joined Wigan at the start of last season and his appearance at Rotherham on Boxing Day was his 732nd career match.

Line up for match at Rotherham on Boxing Day:

22 Jääskeläinen
13 Kellett
3 Buxton
33 Burn
23 Warnock
17 Jacobs
6 Power
14 Jordi Gómez
9 Grigg
21 Davies
31 Wildschut

Substitutes
10 Byrne
11 Le Fondre
15 Flores
18 Woolery
29 Burke
36 Lavercombe
44 Stubbs



Recent Form: Town are 4th in the league with 42 points. 
Blackburn are 22nd with 20.
Wigan are 23rd with 18.

[SHEP_HTAFC]

Great thread Snoots
I was at both matches v Blackburn back in 1992. We were class in both those games.
We should be getting 6 points from these 2 games....that should cement our place in the play offs and maybe even catch the 3 above us.

[Lord Snooty]

Who do we think will get rotated in these two games?

Is Hudson ready yet? Does he come straight back in?

I think Jack Payne may get a start against Blackburn. In for Palmer and then reverse that for Wigan. Same maybe for the two left backs. Hef and Stanko as well maybe.

And as good as Crainie has been standing in for Schmitt, I would save him until the Port Vale game, leave Tommy in for now.

Hopefully have Joe Lolley back for the Vale as well.

[theo_luddite]

Nice one Snoots. Interesting that this pair have lost every game since we played them a few weeks back.

[jjamez]

i agree with snoots on the changes. think he will pick and choose for these two and then port vale. maybe we will have new signings for that one.

i wouldnt be surprised to see whitehead or billing start on saturday in place of hogg who limped off at full time.

[Lord Snooty]

Yes, Hogg went in full blooded on a challenge just before full time and had treatment when the whistle went. Didn't go join in the celebrations either, so could be due a rest.
How good iis it to have such great players to step in.

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Just seen that Hogg is definitely ruled out of the Blackburn match with that injury.

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Tareiq is doubtful too.

[theo_luddite]

C'mon Villa beat the Scumbags

[Lord Snooty]

Two poor teams on display on Sky Sports tonight.

[Lord Snooty]

Well, no result at Reading tonight, so we can go third with a win over Blackburn tomorrow.

COME ON, TOWN!!

[MNTerrier]

tricky game tomorrow, Rovers might well come as spoilers , think we'll have to be at our best tomorrow