Huddersfield Town’s Robbie Simpson: We can beat Swindon Town and go on a promotion run

Feb 12 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ROBBIE SIMPSON reckons Town have what it takes to slow Swindon’s surge up League I – and he’d love to be involved from the start at the Galpharm tomorrow (3.00).

Spearheaded by former Bradford striker Billy Paynter, the Robins come to Huddersfield on a run of six wins in nine unbeaten league games which has helped them climb to fifth.

Lee Clark’s men are two places and five points behind – and determined to close the gap by beating Danny Wilson’s team.

“It’s a big game – a six-pointer if you like – and all the lads are up for it,” said Simpson, who made his first start since the 1-0 defeat at Colchester on October 3 and only his fifth for the club in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Brighton.

“Swindon are on a real roll at present, but we’re unbeaten in six in the league ourselves, and we’re still unbeaten at home, which is a record we want to preserve.

“Our ambition for the season has always been winning promotion by whatever means we can do it. The play-offs are a minimum – and as the table stands, if we win our game in hand, we’d be back in the top six.

“That has to drive us on, and beating Swindon would be a massive plus for us, not just because it would be three points nearer our target, but because it would close the gap on a side above us.”

Clark’s team selection at Brighton, where Simpson began at the expense of 17-goal top scorer Jordan Rhodes and wideman Gary Roberts was also left on the bench, raised a few eyebrows, but for the 24-year-old former Coventry striker, it was a big boost.

“I’ve been waiting a while since recovering from injury, and it was great to be back in the starting line-up,” he explained.

“We played a different system to normal with me up top and Anthony Pilkington and Nathan Eccleston either side, and it’s a shame the conditions were difficult.