ANTHONY GERRARD says Huddersfield Town are ready to keep it tight as they seek a second successive clean sheet at Leicester this afternoon.
The centre-back and his fellow defenders could well be up against Chris Wood, who scored twice against them for Millwall this season.
Leicester have agreed a £2m package to sign the Kiwi international from West Brom, who was also a Town target, and hope to tie up the paperwork in time for him to make his debut today.
Wood, 21, scored 11 times in 19 matches on loan to Millwall, who have been linked with a move for Simon Church, whose loan to Town ended on Saturday.
Town go into their first game of 2013, and 26th of the Championship campaign, in 16th place and seeking a first win in 10 outings.
Leicester, also linked with Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste, are fifth after Saturday’s 1-0 win at Burnley, which came in the wake of Town’s lunchtime goalless home stalemate with Sheffield Wednesday – their fourth draw in five matches.
Town have already experienced how sharp the Foxes can be, having been beaten 2-0 by them at the John Smith’s Stadium in October.
Frenchman Anthony Knockaert notched two sizzling goals, and as well as Wood and England international David Nugent, top scorer with 12 after his winner at Burnley, boss Nigel Pearson has other frontline options.
Former Sunderland man Martyn Waghorn came off the bench at Burnley, while ex-Halifax player Jamie Vardy, Hungarian Marko Futacs and German Jeff Schlupp are also available.
“They’re great going forward, so we’ll have to be on our mettle,” said Gerrard. “But I don’t think our home defeat to them was anything to be ashamed of.
“We lost 2-0, but they scored two outstanding goals. Knockaert slapped in the first from 35 yards and then he produced a brilliant overhead kick.
“There’s a way to lose games and if you lose to goals like that then you can’t be too disappointed or downhearted. We’ll go there looking to get a result.”
Town know that Leicester’s recent form has been patchy – Saturday’s win was their first in five games – and that they have taken only one point from their last two home outings.
Ex-Cardiff man Gerrard is in line for a 15th Town start and 21st appearance in all in a city where his club haven’t won since 1954.
The 30-year-old was a stand-out performer against Sheffield Wednesday, and added: “We were pleased not to get beaten.
“We’ve had three draws in a row (away at Crystal Palace and at home to Blackpool before Saturday’s) and while that sounds miniscule, when you’ve been on the run we have, it’s a start.
“We can’t grumble about the draw. No point is negative and it is another step closer to our target of staying in this division.”
On his own form, Gerrard explained: “I’d like to think I’m showing what I’m capable of. I want to produce consistent performances and hopefully I’m doing that.”
With Zak Whitbread struggling with a calf injury, Leicester could retain teenage centre-back Liam Moore, a former Bradford loan player, in their starting side.
