Nathan Clarke hails Alex Smithies as Huddersfield Town approach key matches

Nov 21 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NATHAN CLARKE knows the next two matches will provide a clear indicator of just how far Town can go this season.

Lee Clark’s sixth-placed team tackle Hartlepool United, who are ninth in League I, at home this afternoon before heading to 11th-placed Swindon Town on Tuesday.

Clarke and Co aim to make it six wins on the spin over the next four days, and go into today’s third successive home game on the back of a Galpharm goal glut of 20 in their last four outings.

The centre-back, who will be 26 a week on Monday, marked a 250th league start for his only club by playing his part in the 6-0 demolition of Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday.

That followed the 6-1 FA Cup first-round destruction of League II Dagenham and Redbridge and wins at home to Leyton Orient (4-0) and at derby rivals Oldham Athletic (1-0).

Not surprisingly, the feelgood factor is firmly apparent, and the academy product, who made his debut at Stoke City in September 2001 and will make his 286th Town appearance in all today, beamed: “Things are going for us at the moment, and it’s great to be a part of it all.

“We’ve chalked up some fantastic wins of late, the atmosphere at our recent matches has been different class, and we desperately want to kick on in what are sure to be two tough games.”

While it’s Town’s scoring rate which has been hitting the headlines, Clarke is proud to be able to boast four clean sheets in the last six games, and has special praise for star keeper Alex Smithies, who continues to attract rave reviews – and scouts!

“For as many goals as we’ve scored, the clean sheets mean just as much, and while it takes an all-round team effort, I feel Smithers has been especially good of late,” he said.

“It wasn’t all one-way traffic against Wycombe, and in the first half especially, he made some terrific saves.

“Allied to that was his superb awareness and distribution, and his quick throwing out meant we were able to turn defence into attack very fast.

“He comes, claims the ball and then releases it, and it’s not something that just happens. Like all the lads, he works hard on the training ground, and is reaping the rewards.”