Preview: Notts County V Huddersfield

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN travel to face Martin Allen's Notts County side in the first game of 2012 hoping for all 3 points to re-ignite hopes of Automatic promotion.

The game against Allen's County will be anything but easy as they demonstrated at The Galpharm with a battling display on 19th November in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Jordan Rhodes scored a brace in that game as Town ended the match with 10 men after Alan Lee was dismissed for an alleged elbow on Sam Sodje.

Huddersfield have lost their 'unbeatable' tag since the last time the sides met and have slipped out of second place in the table and into the play-off places - something that Notts County are trying to achieve this season.

Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark will be looking for his side to bounce back with all 3 points today to maintain the pressure on leaders Charlton and the other teams in the promotion hunt.

'We know Monday's game will be very tough. Martin has changed things around at Notts County and his team play with a lot of desire, passion and commitment. However, we will concentrate on our own performance. I believe we have the best squad in the division, but ultimately we have to deliver and show everyone that is the case.'

'I have the same players to choose from as I did on Friday night. Obviously there has been a report in a newspaper regarding the fitness of Jordan Rhodes, but he is fine; he took a bang on the foot against Carlisle and so being sensible we put him in a boot as a precaution, to take the pressure off it. We would have done the same with any other player and he is fine.



Danny Cadamarteri will be fine too. He suffered with cramp against Carlisle, but that is understandable for any player starting his first game for so long.



The players who featured on Friday night took part in a recovery session in the pool yesterday, whereas the other members of the squad took part in a football session. Today (Sunday) everyone has been in again preparing for Monday afternoon. I watched two games on Saturday too, so there really hasn't been too much time to celebrate the New Year!'

Sam Sodje returns from suspension.

Alan Judge facing a late fitness test on a knee niggle.

Ishmel Demontagnac (suspended)

Gavin Mahon (hamstring), defenders Stephen Hunt (ankle) and Jude Stirling (knee) and goalkeeper Rob Burch (knee)all unavailable for selection.

Expected to be recalled to the team following suspension, he was certainly a man possessed last time the sides met - earning Alan Lee a red card in the process. (n.b would be a good signing for Town's defensive problems!)

Alex Smithies (knee), Damien Johnson (Hamstring)& Calum Woods (ankle) all unavailable.

Danny Ward hoping for a re-call to the team.

Anton Robinson & Donal McDermott will both be hoping to be involved.

Danny Cadamarteri expected to continue in the starting line up

Who Else - Will he add more goals today?

Last Meeting.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 NOTTS COUNTY 1

Town's team (4-4-2):

Ian Bennett; Calum Woods, Antony Kay, Peter Clarke (c), Jack Hunt; Gary Roberts (Anton Robinson 61), Damien Johnson, Tommy Miller, Scott Arfield, Alan Lee, Jordan Rhodes (Lee Novak 84)

Unused substitutes:

Nick Colgan, Liam Cooper, Danny Ward

Bookings:

Town - Jack Hunt 69

County - Sam Sodje 47,

Red card:

Town - Alan Lee 61,

Attendance: 13,906

Nigel Miller is the man in the middle for today's game.

Notts County 1-2 Huddersfield.

Fri 6 Jan - Wycombe (A) 19:45 - Live on Sky Sports.

Sat 14 Jan - Oldham (H) 15:00

Sat 21 Jan - Brentford (H) 17:20 - Live on Sky Sports.

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