Coca Cola League Division 1

Oldham Athletic 1-1 Huddersfield Town

This is more like it, a result of note and an excellent performance to boot. Slowly but surely we are getting there!!

First blood to Town, a long pass from Nathan Clarke, finding Phil Jevons who knocked it into Liam Dickenson and whose blocked shot landed in the path of Ian Craney and gave the Oldham keeper no chance from a dozen yards out.

Town continued to press, Ian Craney and Liam Dickenson working hard to try and find a second, but sadly it wasn't to be. The only Oldham chance of note ending in a goal; Jim Goodwin conceding the free kick, Andy Lidell splittling the wall with the shot and beating anunsighted Matt Glennon.

Chances for Phil Jevons, Michael Flynn and Liam Dickenson came to nothing, but we would have all taken a point if offered pre-match. An excellent perfomance, much improved - hopefully more of the same to come - are we turning the corner at long last? Are the new players finally gelling?? Certainly Stan thinks so.

Stan Ternent on Oldham v Town (official site)

The ticketing schedule / prices are out for our trip to L**** United. It does not make pretty reading, unless you are a Season Ticket holding B & W Member, Patron and holder of 4 away ticket stubs (and willing to pay £27 to visit the big yellow skip).

L**** Ticket Info

A few more tickets than last time granted, I still suspect we will sell out our allocation, but I hope that those who want tickets get them (even if they are not in the first or second tier).

*****

Malvin Kamara is off on loan to Grimsby. Good move this, limited first team opportunities here at the moment.

Kamara Loan Deal

Michael Flynn beleives the fans will be the 12th man on Saturday.

Flynn Calls For Fan Power (Examiner)

We can't play any worse against Oldham than we did last season can we. It wont be easy getting anything there this time either, and I would consider a draw a good result.

Liam Dickensons loan deal has been extended. Now Boothy is back, I can't really see why. Oh well, maybe Stan knows best.

Dickenson Loan Extension (Official Site)

2nd Month On Loan For Derby Front Man (BBC Sport)

Our esteemed leader is a relieved man after Saturday.

Stan - Alls Well That Ends Well

So quality wasn't the order of the day then, just win at all costs. A-win-is-a-win if you like. I hope it is the start of a good run for us, it could be, but we play Oldham next Saturday and I just cannot see us getting anything there. We shall see.

coca cola league division one

Huddersfield Town 3-2 Northampton Town

A win at last for Town, although it was a little more one sided than the scoreline suggests with us being well on top for most of the match.

Northampton the first to score though, a low cross deflected off Jim Goodwin and looped over Matt Glennon to gift The Cobblers an own goal after 23 minutes.

Town on terms not long after, Andy Booth back in the line up. Lovely build up involving Michael Flynn and Liam Dickenson, Ian Craineys blocked shot arrived at the feet of Boothy who made no mistake with his close range shot. 1-1 at half time.

Michael Flynn put Town in front; Jon Worthingtons forward run finding Liam Dickenson, who slotted the ball to Flynn and his shot was out of the reach of the Northampton keeper. Flynn extended Towns lead, a shot from 30 yards creeping under the body of Northampton keeper Chris Dunn.

Liam Davis grabbed a goal back deep in added time, but Town got all 3 points (phew).

Just managed to grab a quick work break. It is 1-1 as we speak, although when we went behind at least one of my work colleagues thought I was going to shoot myself!!! Boothy has currently spared Jim Goodwins blushes.

I still haven't stopped fuming from Saturday.

I cannot believe I am still hearing "...it's only 6 games, Stan can turn it around...". First of all, he had the last few matches of last season (in a watching capacity) and all of pre season as well to get it right. I'm not holding my breath for improvement, I really am not.

Too much tinkering with the side doesn't help. Ok, if players are injured (Boothy, Butler, Cads) there is not a lot you can do, but a more settled side wouldn't go a miss. Why has ST got it in for Kiegan Parker for instance, no one seems to know. Why is he playing Flynn out of position on the wing, when he had his best game for us by far against Sheffield United in the cup playing centre midfield.

Dickenson, although he scored a belter on Saturday, well, I don't see the point of him. N Clarke hoofing it up to him is a waste of time as he can't head for toffee, and his little layoffs / flicks are the sort of things C Brandon was pilloried for - Jevons needs to be playing, and I also hear that Malvin has been playing well for the reserves, so maybe time for another chance for him too.

No matter what, Northampton is must win. If we were to lose on Saturday I would expect Stans head on a platter, nothing less.

Coca Cola League Division 1

Huddersfield Town 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

A disgraceful performance. Awful beyond words second half, we should have lost by many many more, and would have done had Tranmere taken their chances. We were woeful.

In front courtesy of a piledriver of a free kick from Liam Dickenson, that was far too hot for the Rovers keeper to handle. Nearly 2 up not long after, a bullet header from Nathan Clarke after a well taken corner only kept out by an excellent save.

That was as good as it got for Town. Tranmere on terms before half time, Edrissa Sonko beating (a slightly unsighted I thought) Matt Glennon while a static Town defence watched.

Second half, and one of the worst performances from a Town side I can remember. 11 individuals does not make a team, and we were made to pay as Ryan Shotton headed home unmarked to give the win to Rovers.

I am fuming at this, Stan is to blame, although if you read his comments he clearly does not think so.

Stan Ternent on Town v Tranmere

I'm heading over for Saturdays game against Tranmere, and I can hardly wait. I'm hopeful that as long as Stan doesn't mess things around too much, another 3 points could be ours. Last weekends matchwinner Ian Crainey is looking forward to an entertaining afternoon.

Crainey - Lets Excite The Fans

Meanwhile, Stan is still looking out for a goalkeeper, but is happy to bide his time.

Ternent - I'm Still On The Lookout

***

Town have been drawn away at Darlington in the Johnstones Paints Trophy (can't imagine there being a massive crowd for this), the match to be played on Tuesday 7th October

Coca Cola League Division One

Cheltenham Town 1-2 Huddersfield Town

A tale of two halves most definitely. First half, Town ineffective, poor, didn't test the keeper much, one behind after a mistake from Chris Lucketti let in Lloyd Owusu. It wasn't looking good, and another defeat was on the cards.

One substitution made the difference, and Kiegan Parker changed the game completely after replacing an uninspiring Phil Jevons. Town looked in control at last, and reward came when Nathan Clarkes shot levelled the scores.

We didn't have to wait long for a winner, and it was Ian Craney who scored his debut goal for Town - and a fine effort it was too, a superb 25 yard effort to send the 433 travellers home happy (although at half time they were probably wondering why they bothered).

Just the boost we needed, and hopefully the result will spring us into action - good stuff (phew).

Rocket Ron is delighted for the fans.

Ronnie Jepson on Town v Cheltenham

Stan is confident ahead of tomorrows game at Cheltenham.

Stan Ternent Pre Match Comments

Do we need a win or what. One thing Dean Hoyle said on Wednseday that once we get the first win we will be flying as the pressure will be off. Lets hope it is tomorrow, although we won down there last season I still have nightmares about that pass of Pavs a few seasons back (a day I remember just as well for scaring the living daylights of a rather timid betting shop cashier after Boothy had scored).

Last nights Patrons meeting was extremely interesting by all accounts - particularly as the guest was Dean Hoyle. Here are a few points answered by our chairman in waiting (thanks to Marcus Middleton for the information):

• Stan knows that the academy won’t help him be successful in the short term, it’s the First XI that always keeps managers in jobs and the results they get. The academy can bring a trickle of talent through, but the club needed new blood and new attitudes.
• The First XI and the Academy have crossed swords, Stan & Gerry have crossed swords. There have been differences of opinion, but Stan met with Gerry at The Barn on Monday and they have sat and chatted and discussed things in order to move on. The club are fully aware of their differences and they are being monitored as they don’t want any skirmishes to put off future talent joining our academy.
• As a fan Dean is “pissed off” with our current league position but he has every confidence in Stan, his staff, and the players to turn it around and once we get that first win we will be flying as the pressure will be lifted. Stan is notoriously slow to get out of the blocks, but he has always got results with a bit of patience etc.
• The wage budget has increased from £1.7m last season to £3.25m this season. We are currently at that level. New players could come in to take us over that budget in the short term but they want to be prudent and stay within budget in the long term. There is still money available signings/transfer budget though. So really in the future, ideally, a player will have to leave to free up wages to bring in another signing etc. Dean has personally provided the funds for the transfer budget (which suggests that he and Ken are jointly responsible for the wage budget) and as such it is his decision on how much money could be made available if/when he needs to support Stan in the transfer market.
• We had a £850k bid for Stead turned down at the start of the season as Sheff Utd were unsure what was happening with their other strikers at the time. We bid again after the League Cup game but Sheff Utd advised us to leave him alone….a few days later he signs on loan for Ipswich. At that price Stead would have been “good business”.
• We’ve had a slow start but all teams have blips at one time or another, we just happen to have had one at the start of the season. He backs Stan 100%, but he realises he has to back him as he is his manager and he has upmost faith in him. He didn’t think initially that Stan was the right man (Ken & Watson chose him….. Watson previously worked with him at Burnley) but he has now changed his mind after having worked with him; he is the right man to be in charge and he will get the team back on track in the league.

One point that caught my eye is the interest in Jon Stead. Now if we had signed him pre-season, there wouldn't have been too many complaints, however after his ineffectual display against us in the first half of the cup I (and I cannot be the only) who would be a little dismayed had we managed to get him. And for that amount of dough as well.

Dean Hoyle is a top, top bloke, and his answers have been extremely informative. Will be an interesting evening when it is Stans turn to guest!!