Match report: Huddersfield Town 2 - 1 Southend United
Jan 18 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Just as well that Rhodes rediscovered his scoring touch after three blank games, with his first effort giving Southend that sinking feeling just before half-time.
The former Ipswich Town player both started and finished the breakthrough move, getting a nod to Novak’s pass to leave centre-back Simon Francis trailing.
Having picked out Gary Roberts, who in turn found Pilkington, Rhodes continued his run and forced the ball home from close range despite the desperate efforts of right-back Osei Sankofa and goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, who got an arm to the ball but couldn’t stop it crossing the line.
Scannell headed across the face of goal from left-back Scott Malone’s 47th-minute corner, then had a 56th-minute shot blocked by Southend old boy Peter Clarke.
But Town continued to push forward, and Pilkington tested Mildenhall before Rhodes planted his corner in the back of the net with a firm header.
There were two chances for the frontman to bag what would have been a second Town hat trick, the first from Novak’s pass and the second from a well-weighted cross by Theo Robinson.
Robinson’s fellow substitute Robbie Simpson then had a low shot held before Spencer, making his Southend debut from the bench, chased down a long ball, got goalside of Peter Clarke and flicked a shot past the helpless Alex Smithies to give his side hope.
Losing out on a clean sheet was a setback, but at least Town held out to capture an important three points.
Now bring on Bristol!
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Let us know what you thought about the game - was three points enough or was more style needed?
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