Huddersfield Town v Swindon Town

Huddersfield Town story posted by Andy Dixon on 20/11/2002
After being dumped out of the F.A. Cup by Swindon Town in last weekend's dress rehearsal, Town fans will be hoping that this Saturday's league game doesn't end with a similar result. According to many sources Town completely outplayed the Gloucestershire side and were unfortunate to leave the County Ground on the wrong end of a one-nil defeat.Huddersfield Town v Swindon Town

Alas, it was the infamous scoring record of the contemporary Huddersfield Town team which took up the most column inches and most terrier fans' conversations. With only thirteen league goals scored so far this season, the question: "What do John Thorrington, Dwayne Mattis, Andy Booth, Scott McDonald, Martin Smith, Simon Baldry, Jon Stead and Adie Moses have in common?" has been bouncing off the college walls and ceilings all week.

Obviously, the answer is that they have all scored at least one league goal for the blue and white this season (you all knew that, didn't you?) Anyway, while Mick Wadsworth and his staff have their hands full finding regular scoring boots for their players, the gaffer also has the problem of not being able to select at least two of his goalscorers as Scott McDonald has packed his bags and returned to his farm in Southampton while Andy Booth has managed to injure himself again!

Many regular preview readers will probably remember my fictitious jibe at the Town number nine in the Wycombe Wanderers preview:

"Local hero Andy Booth is out (what a surprise) and according to various reports his return may have been delayed yet another week due to a unique accident last Sunday evening. Apparently Boothy was having a formal evening meal with his family and was suitably dressed in a suit and tie, unfortunately a nasty gust of wind caught the tie and blew it against Andy's face. The collision has caused severe swelling of the cheek and Booth was lucky to avoid a broken jaw!"

But even this fails to live up to the reality of the strikers recent bad luck. Apparently, he has managed to injure his calf by climbing a flight of stairs too quickly! Now this may be hard to believe, considering his speed (or lack of) on the pitch, so maybe the striker is just having cold feet about returning to first team action. Especially since this 'injury' means that he may not make another cameo appearance until after Christmas.

Eighteenth-place Swindon will be looking for their sixth win of the campaign, but their last away game saw them lose surprisingly to Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 in the LDV Vans Southern Section Second Round. However, they won their last away league match by the same scoreline (3-2) against Wycombe, while their last home result was a 1-1 draw with Tranmere. The terriers last league game was a disappointing 0-0 draw against 10-man Wycombe, while their last away league game was an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cheltenham. Just for the record Town's last goal was scored by Town's hottest young prospect Jon Stead in that awful 1-1 draw with Colchester nearly a month ago.

After last week's visit to the University of Lincoln (the reason why I missed the Swindon cup game and could not do a report), I will be in full voice on Saturday as I enjoy another McAlpine afternoon. Hopefully Phill will take up his role as terrier-bytes home reporter, after I covered for him at the Wycombe match, so he may be brewing up another excellent match report for you all to relish.


Andy's Prediction:
Since the last home match ended nil-nil and last weekend's game was decided on an 85th minute goal, I feel that this game has 'no goalscorer' bet written all over it. At the Wycombe match I had my 50p on 5-0 (at 100 to 1) and another 50p on 0-0 (at 8 to 1), I think that this Saturday I might risk both fifties on 0-0 and see if I can win ?9 (it's better than nothing!). Now I'm not trying to promote gambling, so remember kids - the bookie always wins.

Previous Meeting:
Saturday, 16th November 2002:
Swindon Town 1 vs 0 Huddersfield Town (F.A. Cup match)


Swindon's One to Watch:
Eric Sabin
The 27-year old French attacker will be hoping to add to his tally of three goals so far this season when he visits the McAlpine. The striker has been booked four times this season and signed for his club in June last year.


Probable Town Line-up:

[Formation: 4-4-2]
1. Scott Bevan (goalkeeper)
20. Steve Jenkins (right-back)
22. Kevin Sharpe (left-back)
5. Adie Moses (centre-half)
27. Nat Brown (centre-half)
33. Dwayne Mattis (central midfield)
29. Jonathan Worthington (central midfield)
7. Danny Schofield (right midfield)
19. Martin Smith (centre forward)
14. Jon Stead (centre forward)
10. John Thorrington (left midfield)

Substitutes:
35. Phil Senior (goalkeeper)
31. Paul Macari (centre forward)
28. Paul Scott (central midfield)
17. Eddie Youds (centre-half)
8. Kenny Irons (central midfield)

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