HUDDERSFIELD assistant manager Terry McDermott is bullish that his side can strengthen their play-off claims in a clash of the inform teams at St Mary’s tonight.
The three time European Cup winner and former England international, assistant to Lee Clarke at the Galpharm Stadium, has seen the Terriers string together a 12 match unbeaten run in the league.
For their part Saints have gone seven league games without defeat and know they desperately need a win to close the gap on Huddersfield who sit in sixth.
McDermott said: “Southampton are a very good team. The pitch at their stadium is fantastic, they have a decent manager that knows the game and it will be a very difficult game for us – not many teams will be relishing going to Southampton.
“Southampton are a top team, who have made some significant investments over the years.
“They have players who have featured in higher divisions and I’m not at all surprised at how strong they look. They paid just under a million for Rickie Lambert this season, too.
“However, some of our best performances away from home this season have been against the top teams and, if we can replicate that type of performance, there is no reason that we can’t take something tonight.”
Huddersfield come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Leeds but with two injury worries.
“Lee Peliter had an x-ray and it showed no major damage so he will be travelling with us but whether he will be ready for the game or not is another matter,” reported McDermott.
“The game might come too soon for Lee but he doesn’t like missing games and it wouldn’t surprise me if he declares himself fit at 6.30pm.
“There is also a slight doubt over Antony Kay – he got a knock to his calf on Saturday. We are taking all 21 senior players though as it is important we stick together.”
Huddersfield are making it an extended stay on the south coast.
They travel to Gillingham at the weekend and so have forked out to stay down for five days, having travelled south yesterday.
During their time on the south coast, they will train in Eastleigh.
“We travelled down Monday and have been using Portsmouth’s training ground – and will continue to do so until Thursday afternoon.
“Then we’ll train at Eastleigh’s facilities on Friday morning – their manager, Ian Baird, has kindly let us use their facilities.
“We don’t want the lads getting bored, so we will probably take them for a bite to eat on Wednesday.
“We might go to the cinema on the Thursday and perhaps we can let a couple of the younger lads find a fun fair!
You don’t want to coup the lads up in a hotel for four or five days, so we will try to mix it up a little bit.
“Now it us up to us to repay the owner and come away with four to six points from these two important away games.”
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