Huddersfield Town skipper Peter Clarke wary of Brighton backlash

Feb 9 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

PETER CLARKE will head into action at Brighton tonight (7.45) confident Town can chalk up their second successive League I away win.

But the skipper says Town will also be wary of a backlash from the Sussex side after their first meeting of the season at the Galpharm in August.

Lee Clark’s seventh-placed team romped to a 7-1 success, with Clarke on the scoresheet alongside Theo Robinson (2), Antony Kay, Lee Novak (penalty), Gary Roberts and Danny Drinkwater.

Since then, the Seagulls, who suffered in West Yorkshire after Dutch goalkeeper Michel Kuipers was red carded, have changed managers, with Gus Poyet replacing Russell Slade, and introduced new players.

And Clarke, who helped Town win 1-0 at Yeovil on their last road trip, knows Brighton will be a completely different prospect at Withdean, even though their home record shows nine League I defeats along with two wins and two draws.

“It’s a cliche but it’s true – there really are no easy games,” said the 29-year-old centre-back in the wake of the 1-1 home draw with Carlisle United on Saturday, when Brighton had the same scoreline at Leyton Orient.

“It was a great result for us back in August, but it’s been and gone, and the only reason we should recall it is because it might give them extra incentive to take revenge.

“We have to be ready for that and be totally tuned in to getting the win which we know we’re capable of.

“The Yeovil game brought us three points and it would be very nice to make it two away wins on the spin.”

It’s the first of four successive Tuesday trips for Town, who also go to Carlisle United a week tonight, Tranmere Rovers on February 23 and Southampton on March 2.

The Saturday schedule is Swindon Town at home this weekend, Hartlepool United away on February 20, Leeds United at home on February 27 and Gillingham away on March 6.

“It’s a big, big spell,” added Clarke, who was a 3-1 winner at Brighton with Southend last season, when Town won 1-0 at the Sussex venue through Michael Collins.

“With games coming thick and fast like they are doing, it’s a terrific chance to accumulate points and really put some pressure on the sides above us.”

Looking back to the Carlisle clash, the former Everton and Blackpool player said: “It’s frustrating to be ahead and not to win.

“Whether it was two points lost or one gained will become clearer at the end of the season, but at the moment, it feels like two lost.

“We created some decent chances, and I thought we should have had a penalty near the end (when Drinkwater tumbled in a challenge).