Match report: Southend United 0 - 1 Huddersfield Town

Dec 15 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ALEX Smithies was given a tough introduction to the harsh realities of life as a professional footballer at Southend 12 months ago.

Handed a dramatic debut by the dismissal of Matt Glennon, the rookie goalkeeper was beaten twice in 15 minutes as Town slumped 4-1.

Back at rainy Roots Hall on Saturday, it was a very different story.

Retained for a second successive start, the 18-year-old England junior international responded with an excellent performance topped off by an 83rd-minute penalty save.

Smithies dived to his left to deny James Walker and protect the lead provided by Ian Craney’s close-range 48th-minute sidefoot and ensure Town climbed to 10th in League I.

It was a deserved third successive away win and fourth victory in five matches for the Galpharm side.

And it provided a rousing end to the latest Red Adair act by Gerry Murphy, who was forced to miss his sixth and final game as caretaker manager by illness.

It also left a solid platform from which new boss Lee Clark, who watched from the directors’ box, can hopefully lead the team further up the table.