Brentford 0, Huddersfield Town 1

Apr 25 2005 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

"But the supporters should know that Stewart shouldn't really have played. He had to because I had no other fit central midfielders, and he commendably took responsibility."

It was an ugly end to a gritty game played in a partisan atmosphere.

The second half was punctuated by chants of "Cheats, cheats" by the home fans, but Town boss Jackson bristled at suggestions his players had gone down too easily in a bid to use up time.

"They're too young to know how to feign injury," he said, pointing to the fact that the combined age of David Mirfin, Tom Clarke and John McCombe, his three central defenders in a 5-3-2 line-up, is just 56.

"I've got two players who needed stitches, Andy Booth in his head and Tom Clarke in his shin after a horrendous tackle by (Sam) Sodje, and a lot carrying knocks."

If most players were feeling pain on the journey back up the M1, there must also have been pleasure at this win.

The first half hour was even, with Andy Booth looping a header over after a minute and Talbot firing wide after 17 before Rachubka made his first contribution, grasping the ball under pressure from Deon Burton as busy midfielder Darren Pratley crossed low.