No problem!

Jan 30 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE attendance might have been a big concern, but boss Andy Ritchie believes that if Town can keep on battling, they will soon climb the League I table.

Only 7,359 (117 away fans) witnessed last night’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth, which was sealed by Phil Jevons’ 34th-minute goal and hoisted the Galpharm side to 15th in the table.

Just four days after Town took a magnificent 4,581 FA Cup following to Oldham, they returned by far their lowest home league gate of the season and the third worst figure for a league match since leaving Leeds Road back in 1994.

At least those who did turn out were rewarded with a first league win in six matches and a first double, with Town now chasing a second away to Yeovil on Saturday.

Ritchie was giving Andy Booth, who returned from a four-game injury lay-off as an 82nd-minute replacement for Luke Beckett, a run-out in this afternoon’s home reserve clash with Coventry (2.00) to sharpen him up ahead of the trip to Somerset.

And he warned his players that they will have to be prepared to roll their sleeves up and dig deep once again if they are to earn a third straight win.

“I didn’t think Bournemouth put us under any sustained pressure, and they never really looked like scoring,” said Ritchie, who hailed the home debut display of Robert Page, his recent signing from Coventry.

“Rob has had two very impressive games both in terms of his own performance and they way he has commanded those around him, with Nathan Clarke, in particular, appearing to benefit.

“I think both he and Jevo can play a big part for us with their experience.

“It was good to see Jevo back on the scoresheet.

“He has been going along steadily for us, but perhaps he should have had a few more goals, and he could have had a hat trick last night.

“It was a shame we didn’t get more goals, but I’m happy we won, because it was important we avoided a repeat of the match after the Birmingham cup-tie, when we lost to Gillingham.

“People were talking about the Chelsea match being a distraction, but I think the players showed they were fully focused on last night’s game.

“They put their bodies on the line for the third match running, and we will have to do that every game between now and May.”

Ritchie expects Frank Sinclair to be fit for Saturday even though he had to pull out of last night’s match because of a back spasm suffered during the warm-up.

The fifth-round cup-tie at Chelsea will take place on Saturday, February 16, but kick-off time and ticket details have yet to be confirmed.