A Terrier's Tale.....

It wasn't just 6,500 sodden supporters at the Galpharm on Saturday - the Racing Post sent their football reporter along as well - there is half a pageful about the game (page 93 of todays edition). Here is (a slightly abridged version admittedly) what it says.........

Match in Focus - Huddersfield 0 Blackpool 1

Hoolahan the hero as Seasiders make the best of poor conditions

Weather

Very wet, windy and cold.

Was The result a fair reflection

Yes, Blackpool deserved to progress to the next round, as they coped with the conditions better and showed the greater invention of the two teams. The inclement weather made conditions exceptional, although both teams were guilty of hoofing the ball into the air rather than keeping it on the deck.

Blackpools winner came from the spot when the infuential Wes Hoolahan waited for Matty Glennon to commit himself before desptaching the ball to the opposite corner.

How did Huddersfield play

Surprisingly, boss Peter Jackson went 4-1-4-1 rather than playing Gary Taylor-Fletcher therough the middle with Andy Booth. Jackson's plan was probably to give the team greater width, but while Taylor-Fletcher was a threat down the right, little was coming from Danny Schofield down the left.

Booth is a Terriers legend, but he was largely ineffective here. Huddersfields best player is Jon Worthington who gave an accomplished display in the midfield role.

(...I won't bore you with how Blackpool played...)

Champagne Moment

Blackpool keeper Rhys Evans cleared but was slow to get back into position and Nathan Clarke lobbed goalwards from the halfway line. The ball bounced on the penalty spot and skidded up and over the despairing Evans and onto the bar.

Woeful

Former Lincoln striker Taylor-Fletcher showed none of the clinical instinct he has displayed this season, and rather than heading in the rebound first time, with Evans now tangled up in the net, he opted to try and control the ball. his touch was a bit clumsy and allowed a defender to come back and clear.

Pointers

Huddersfield look a team low on confidence at present and Blackpool will be confident of victory in the league at Bloomfield Road next Saturday.

*****

Very depressing reading it makes. I think the most telling point of the article is the bit where the reporter says about Boothy being "...ineffective...", and that we may have been better served with Fletch down the middle. And as for the formation "...giving them more width...", it's the first time I have heard that given as a reason for playing 4-1-4-1, because I don't see as it does!!!

We have to improve, end of - maybe thats an understatement - but our season is in freefall once again - lets hope for better things next Saturday (I don't see many Terriers making the trip do you).