Match report: Southend United 0 - 1 Huddersfield Town

Dec 15 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Under the charge of Graham Mitchell, who has worked closely with Murphy since Stan Ternent’s departure on November 4, Town bossed the first half, producing some fluent passages of football spoiled only by the odd misplaced pass or lack of a decisive finishing touch.

Town’s breakthrough goal signalled Southend’s best spell of the match.

But determined defending and a selection of solid saves by Smithies kept the hosts at bay.

Aiming to build on the previous week’s 2-1 home win over Walsall, Mitchell kept the same starting XI, and Smithies, again keeping the experienced Glennon on the sidelines, set the tone for an assured display by calmly collecting Alex Revell’s low and awkward fourth-minute ball into the penalty box.

Gary Roberts was just wide with a speculative 25-yard shot in the seventh minute before Southend’s French frontman Francis Laurent headed over before, with a flag already raised for offside, rasping an angled shot against Smithies’ left-hand upright.

Town failed in a 16th-minute penalty appeal, when Andy Butler tumbled under a challenge from no-nonsense centre-back Adam Barrett.

Then Craney was unable to capitalise on Roberts’ neat 19th-minute cross, beating right-back Simon Francis only to shoot wide.