Huddersfield Town's Keigan Parker on the Leeds United clash

Jan 10 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

KEIGAN PARKER is a fully paid-up subscriber to the popular footballing theory that the next match is the most important.

But the striker admits he has already looked ahead towards Town’s big West Yorkshire derby date with Leeds United at the Galpharm five weeks today.

Town, of course, will be chasing a third successive win over their old rivals in the February 14 lunchtime showdown.

And they’ll be seeking a first double against them since 1930-31 in a meeting which seems sure to attract a season’s-best gate.

The current high is 16,951 for last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Oldham, after which Parker emerged to immediately point out: “That’s us level on points with Leeds.”

The 26-year-old Scot returned from suspension to start at Elland Road in November, when Town triumphed 2-1 through Michael Collins’ stoppage-time strike in front of 32,028.

And the second clash will have added appeal for Parker because of Simon Grayson’s recent appointment as Leeds manager.