Town face Rotherham tonight in their middle game of three game week, after beating Preston on Boxing Day on Monday before facing Luton at home on Sunday. Mark Fotheringham’s selection for tonight will be interesting as he’ll have to decide whether to trust the fitness and momentum of the players that won the last game or whether to freshen things up and use his squad.
This isn’t a game for taking risks either, as any mistakes could be huge at the end of the season as Rotherham could end up being one of the teams we are grappling with for survival. We’ve already given them three points earlier in the season in the reverse fixture, so getting the team selection right tonight is vital. It’s not just a question of fresh legs either, should we play it safe or throw caution to the wind? A lot of recent success has been built on a solid defensive base but surely we’re in a position where we’ve got to go for it and go after weaker teams?
Here’s the team I think Mark Fotheringham will pick tonight:
Goalkeeper: Nicholls
Tommy Miller was on co-commentary duty for Radio Leeds on Boxing Day and while I thought he did a good job, he didn’t do much to win over Town fans early on when he discussed the possibility of Town selling Nicholls in the January window. He was only speculating but the idea is unthinkable and he must be kept at all costs if we hope to stay up. Having said that, he did get beaten at his near post for PNE’s goal on Monday. It would have been a great save if he’d stopped it but he’s pulled similar off before and I expect he’ll be disappointed that one slipped past him.
Defence: Kesler-Hayden, Lees, Helik, Boyle, Thomas
Kaine Kesler-Heyden came in for Sorba Thomas and scored the winning goal, so it would feel a bit harsh to drop him. I’d prefer to go for it and have threats on both flanks with Sorba coming in for Ruffels instead and let him have more of a free role to roam about and cause damage. The three central defenders should be able to cope with Rotherham’s attackers and we can try to use our wingbacks to stretch Rotherham.
Midfield: Diarra, Camara, Hogg, Rudoni
There are some interesting decisions to be made in midfield too, Diarra was a key man off the bench on Monday, so why wait until the second half? Surely he deserves a start and Duane Holme can drop to the bench to make way. Our two most creative players at the moment seem to be Diarra and Rudoni, so it makes sense to have them both playing behind the main striker.
Then in deeper central midfield pairing I’d want Eitienne Camara to be in there to freshen it up and add his ability to spread the ball around the pitch and retain possession. One of Hogg or Kasumu would need to make way, I would drop Kasumu because his rash challenge on Monday showed a lack of maturity and the rest of this midfield is quite young too, so Hogg’s experience and leadership is more needed.
Striker: Rhodes
I said some harsh things about Jordan Rhodes after the Watford game, when he missed a sitter in the dying minutes and now feel like a bit of a wally after he put in an excellent performance against Preston with a fine goal and almost scored another when he hit the post. He’s lost his scoring touch in recent months but it seemed to have returned on Boxing Day and it wouldn’t be a bad time for him to roll back the years and start banging them in like he used to for Lee Clark back in the League One days.
Danny Ward has been ruled out due to his back injury, which was incurred because of Loick Ayina being too eager in training apparently. The young centre back is alllegedly a bit tasty but crocking your own players in training is counter-productive. Tyreece Simpson is still on the long road back to full fitness though and should be able to play at least half an hour if needed. It would be interesting to see how him and Rhodes play alongside each other, given how Rhodes tends to thrive when he has a target man to do the grunt work for him.
Score prediction: Huddersfield Town 1 – 0 Rotherham
I’m not going to get carried away after the win against Preston and predict we’ll blow Rotherham away 3-0 or anything daft but I do think we have enough about us to edge this game. In the Rotherham away game there was very little in it between the two sides on the day. They had slightly more quality but it was two poor sides. I think at this point in the season we might have a bit more momentum behind us and have the home advantage, so I can see us being able to knick it.
I’m enjoying the way Mark Fotheringham talks excitedly about the “powerful legs” that his players have got at the moment, that are helping them in the late stages of games. Maybe those legs are going to help us snatch a late goal in the dying moments when Rotherham are flagging. That’s my prediction, a last gasp winner when it’s looking like a drab 0-0 and everyone’s settling for a point.
Glad you’re back and recovered from illness, TS.
Surely Thomas comes back to the squad and starts tonight, no? I think Beck Lane was right : MF thought he needed to send a message, given that Thomas’s play was nowhere near standard the previous games. The message was sent, and hopefully–as MF more or less explicitly stated– we see from Thomas what we saw from Holmes against Preston. And speaking of Holmes, surely he deserves to start, too.
Agreed on your predicted score. Yes, we were all shouting to show Rhodes the door after Watford, and now we’re all looking to him for our goal. And (surely) Diarra will be the one to set it up.
Diarra is an impact sub in my opinion has done nothing when starting.
I don’t see why Thomas should come straight back in – sure if there is a place up for grabs due to others not performing, then yes, I agree, someone who is training well should get the shirt – but at left back?????. It would be harsh to drop anyone from PNE although I agree Kasumu needs to mature – on that basis I can see why Camara could be selected.
This is a ridiculous league. Before Rotherham we are bottom but only 13 points off the top 6 with a match in hand. Put a few good results together and we’re fighting for promotion!
This is a late entrant for comment of the year! The kind of delusion I absolutely endorse. I’m off to book my hotel for Wembley now before the prices go up.