Huddersfield Town vs Wigan Athletic
Huddersfield Town story posted by Andy Dixon on 16/04/2003
The immovable objects meet the unstoppable force this Saturday afternoon at the McAlpine Stadium.
It's true, since Mel Machin took charge of Huddersfield Town, around a month ago, they have seemed unstoppable. With two wins in a row and an unlucky away defeat against Notts County, Town have seemed to pulled their season around once again.
But Paul Jewell's champions-in-waiting Wigan have appeared immovable from their perch at the summit of Division Two and will have the champagne on ice in case they upset the terrier faithful. Even though Crewe's failure to beat Bristol City on Tuesday night meant that Wigan would be entertaining Division One opponents at the JJB Stadium next season, they will still be looking for the points to seal the Championship.
Saturday's game will be Machin's second home match in control, after he replaced Mick Wadsworth. He will have a relatively full-strength squad to pick from, with the exception of goalkeeper Scott Bevan and defenders Nathan Clarke and Gareth Evans. Hopefully Machin will be able to find the same winning concoction which obliterated Chesterfield and stunned Swindon.
With four games left, Town sit 22nd in the league and three points below the relegation zone. Yet it is tight at the bottom with the bottom ten teams separated by a mere 11 points. So this match will be vital for Town's survival and hopefully there will be good reason for another John Smith's conga.
Last weekend Town achieved Machin's mission and won 1-0 at Swindon (the team who eliminated us from the FA Cup in Round One) with a Martin Smith wonder goal in the closing moments of the game. Meanwhile, Wigan won 2-0 at home to mid-table Brentford.
The terriers last home game was an outstanding 4-0 hammering of fellow-strugglers Chesterfield in which Jon Stead scored twice, while Martin Smith grabbed two more goals and uncharacteristically missed a penalty. Wigan's last away game was a welcome 2-0 victory over bottom of the league Northampton Town.
On Easter weekend Town will be looking for a minimum of four points from this game and Stockport County away, so hopefully they haven't been munching on too many chocolate bunnies or hot-crossed buns. Regardless Phill should hopefully be in attendance and will probably produce another one of his excellent match reports for you all to relish.
Andy's Prediction:
After predicting that Town would lose 4-0 to Cardiff then 4-0 to Plymouth then again against Chesterfield, I feel as if I should continue the trend and predict a 4-0 win for Wigan, as hopefully Town will be able to win again.
Previous Meeting:
Saturday, 21st December 2002:
Wigan Athletic 1 vs 0 Huddersfield Town (Division 2 match)
Wigan's One to Watch:
Nathan Ellington
This Bradford-born striker already has 22 goals in his sack this season and will be looking for a few more before leaving Division Two. The 22-year old attacker is only 5 foot 10, but will be a handful for Town's defence.
Form Guide:
Terriers - (six matches ago) LDLWW (last match)
Latics - (six matches ago) DDWLWW (last match)
Probable Line-up:
[Formation: 5-2-3]
35. Philip Senior (goalkeeper)
5. Adie Moses (centre-back)
15. Jason Gavin (centre-back)
27. Nat Brown (right-wing-back)
20. Thomas Heary (sweeper)
7. Danny Schofield (left-wing-back)
29. Jon Worthington (central-midfield)
6. Chris Holland (central-midfield)
14. Jon Stead (right-forward)
9. Andy Booth (centre-forward)
19. Martin Smith (left-forward)
Substitutes:
40. Andrew Jeffrey (goalkeeper)
28. Paul Scott (central-midfield)
33. Dwayne Mattis (midfield)
10. John Thorrington (midfield)
36. Ben Austin (?)
It's true, since Mel Machin took charge of Huddersfield Town, around a month ago, they have seemed unstoppable. With two wins in a row and an unlucky away defeat against Notts County, Town have seemed to pulled their season around once again.
But Paul Jewell's champions-in-waiting Wigan have appeared immovable from their perch at the summit of Division Two and will have the champagne on ice in case they upset the terrier faithful. Even though Crewe's failure to beat Bristol City on Tuesday night meant that Wigan would be entertaining Division One opponents at the JJB Stadium next season, they will still be looking for the points to seal the Championship.
Saturday's game will be Machin's second home match in control, after he replaced Mick Wadsworth. He will have a relatively full-strength squad to pick from, with the exception of goalkeeper Scott Bevan and defenders Nathan Clarke and Gareth Evans. Hopefully Machin will be able to find the same winning concoction which obliterated Chesterfield and stunned Swindon.
With four games left, Town sit 22nd in the league and three points below the relegation zone. Yet it is tight at the bottom with the bottom ten teams separated by a mere 11 points. So this match will be vital for Town's survival and hopefully there will be good reason for another John Smith's conga.
Last weekend Town achieved Machin's mission and won 1-0 at Swindon (the team who eliminated us from the FA Cup in Round One) with a Martin Smith wonder goal in the closing moments of the game. Meanwhile, Wigan won 2-0 at home to mid-table Brentford.
The terriers last home game was an outstanding 4-0 hammering of fellow-strugglers Chesterfield in which Jon Stead scored twice, while Martin Smith grabbed two more goals and uncharacteristically missed a penalty. Wigan's last away game was a welcome 2-0 victory over bottom of the league Northampton Town.
On Easter weekend Town will be looking for a minimum of four points from this game and Stockport County away, so hopefully they haven't been munching on too many chocolate bunnies or hot-crossed buns. Regardless Phill should hopefully be in attendance and will probably produce another one of his excellent match reports for you all to relish.
Andy's Prediction:
After predicting that Town would lose 4-0 to Cardiff then 4-0 to Plymouth then again against Chesterfield, I feel as if I should continue the trend and predict a 4-0 win for Wigan, as hopefully Town will be able to win again.
Previous Meeting:
Saturday, 21st December 2002:
Wigan Athletic 1 vs 0 Huddersfield Town (Division 2 match)
Wigan's One to Watch:
Nathan Ellington
This Bradford-born striker already has 22 goals in his sack this season and will be looking for a few more before leaving Division Two. The 22-year old attacker is only 5 foot 10, but will be a handful for Town's defence.
Form Guide:
Terriers - (six matches ago) LDLWW (last match)
Latics - (six matches ago) DDWLWW (last match)
Probable Line-up:
[Formation: 5-2-3]
35. Philip Senior (goalkeeper)
5. Adie Moses (centre-back)
15. Jason Gavin (centre-back)
27. Nat Brown (right-wing-back)
20. Thomas Heary (sweeper)
7. Danny Schofield (left-wing-back)
29. Jon Worthington (central-midfield)
6. Chris Holland (central-midfield)
14. Jon Stead (right-forward)
9. Andy Booth (centre-forward)
19. Martin Smith (left-forward)
Substitutes:
40. Andrew Jeffrey (goalkeeper)
28. Paul Scott (central-midfield)
33. Dwayne Mattis (midfield)
10. John Thorrington (midfield)
36. Ben Austin (?)
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