Mirfin ready for FA Cup battle

Jan 25 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

DAVID MIRFIN is ready for a battle at Boundary Park – and that’s before tomorrow's big FA Cup clash with Oldham even begins!

The arrival of former Welsh international Robert Page from Coventry this week means there is now serious competition for Town’s existing centre-backs.

Mirfin was more often than not the man to miss out when Richard Keogh was on loan from Bristol City earlier this season.

But he’s determined to do everything possible to stake his claim in the new selection contest with Page and fellow Town academy product Nathan Clarke.

While Page was putting the finishing touches to a deal which runs until the end of the current campaign, Mirfin and Clarke were busy keeping Brighton at bay in last Saturday's 1-1 League I stalemate in Sussex.

And after the previous week’s 3-1 home defeat by Gillingham, Mirfin was satisfied with the improvement made.

“It was disappointing to go a goal down (to Tommy Elphick in the 74th minute) because we had been defending solidly all match,” said the Sheffield-based 22-year-old.

“But we had been creating chances of our own, and we were confident we had a goal in us.

“We had words to that affect as we lined up to kick-off again, and all credit to Robbie Williams for getting us back level so soon after we’d gone behind.”

The former Barnsley man delivered in the 76th minute with a superbly-executed free-kick, and Mirfin was full of admiration.

“Robbie calls his left foot his magic wand,” he revealed.

“We’ve been waiting a while to see it (it was Williams’ ninth Town appearance), but all credit to him, because it was a perfect strike.

“Hopefully we’ll see a few more goals from him now, and nobody will be complaining if number two arrives at Oldham tomorrow.”

Mirfin made his debut against the Latics in a 1-1 Galpharm draw in the last match of the 2002-03 Second Division (now League I) relegation season.

And he’d love to make a 168th career appearance in tomorrow's fourth-round showdown between the divisional rivals.

“People talk about the FA Cup losing some of its appeal, but to myself and the lads at Town, it’s still as big a competition as ever,” he added.

"Beating Birmingham in the last round was special, and while there was a bit of initial disappointment for both ourselves and Oldham when the draw was made, I think both clubs now realise they’ve got a great chance to reach the fifth round.

“There’s very little between us in terms of league positions (Oldham are 13th, Town 17th) and the last two meetings have both been draws.

“That suggests it’s down to who is up for it more, and we have to make sure we produce the same gritty determination we did at Brighton, and this time keep a clean sheet.”

Town will be backed by a sell-out 4,595 fans across the Pennines, and Mirfin says that level of support is a major boost.

“The atmosphere at the Birmingham game was brilliant, and there should be something similar tomorrow,” he said.

“The fans really got behind us three weeks ago, and if they can match the Oldham support or even out-sing them, I'm sure the team will respond.

"We’re all determined to do the business, and with everyone pulling together, we've got a great chance.”

Oldham, meanwhile, will be hoping Craig Davies finally has some luck in front of goal.

The former Manchester City man, who will shoulder the responsibility of leading the frontline in the absence of suspended colleague Lee Hughes, is the Latics’ 10-goal top scorer.

But the man who hit the woodwork twice in Tuesday’s 1-1 League I draw at Gillingham has now gone 10 games without scoring.

He is set to be partnered by Deane Smalley, 19, or Matt Wolfenden, 20, tomorrow.

Oldham (from): Crossley, Eardley, Trotman, Lomax, Stam, Hazell, Allott, Kalala, McDonald, Taylor, Smalley, Davies, Wolfenden, Alessandra, Black, Pogliacomi.

Town (from): Glennon, Sinclair, Clarke, Mirfin, Page, Williams, Kamara, Holdsworth, Worthington, Collins, Schofield, Beckett, Jevons, Booth, Young, Berrett, Racchi, Smithies.

Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear).