Huddersfield Boss Andy Ritchie On Tonight

Last updated : 12 February 2008 By Thetashkentterror
Andy Ritchie
Town manager Andy Ritchie spoke to the official Terriers website about his side's game against Carlisle at Brunton Park this evening, Ritchie suggesting that his players need to be party-poopers as United look for a tenth successive home league win :


"It's virtually a three hour trip to Carlisle and if it had been a Friday night game we would have probably stayed over, but we didn't want to leave on a Monday. We'll have a little bit of kip in the hotel before the game and with the amount of games that are coming up, it's just a case of getting the correct rest and recuperation in as well as getting the balance of training right.

"Jon (Worthington) came back into the side after solving his hernia problem and made a great start at Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day, but unfortunately he had to come off at half-time with a hamstring problem. Following that he had one or two indifferent games but he's been in good form as of late. He's an inspiration on the pitch and he really gets around the pitch making his tackles, so of course he will be a loss.

"However, I feel that we are equipped to deal with that loss. Michael Collins has played in a number of roles for us lately, but you would say that his best position in central midfield and so he is an option. James Berrett has also come in and done a very good job for us in midfield this season and so there might be a train of thought that he should start so that we can leave Mickey out wide. We have one or two other options as well.

"John Ward likes his sides to play football and he has some good players at Carlisle, especially up front; Scott Dobie has come in during the January window and Joe Garner has scored a lot of goals this season. They like to play attractive football, but they can mix it physically too. They are aiming to make it ten straight home wins, which would be a club record, and we have to go there and be the 'party-poopers'.

"We know it's going to be a very difficult game as they are in the Play-Off zone on merit - to be as consistent as they have been this season takes a lot of hard work and we are striving to match that. We'll keep all of our options open, but we've looked very solid in our 4-4-2 formation as of late and I don't want to upset the mindsets of the lads by changing our system too much.

"I've always said that if we play to our full potential, we are capable of beating any side in this league. It's just a case of getting that from the players week-in, week-out. The game that we played here, we could have and should have ended up winning the game in the second-half, but hands up, I thought that they were the better team in the first-half without really getting too many chances but they got the goal that counted in the game.

"In the second-half, we know that we can open them up but I've said that about every team, we can open any team up. It's just whether or not we take the chances and keep them out at the other end."




Meanwhile former Blues goalkeeper Matty Glennon commented :

"I had a good time at Carlisle and I'm looking forward to going back up there, but I'll enjoy my return even more if we win! Although this wasn't always the case in my time there, Brunton Park is now a very hard place to travel. They are currently on a club record streak of nine wins at home but hopefully we can end that run on Tuesday night."



As Ritchie has already mentioned the only player missing for Town tonight will be central midfielder, and captain, Jon Worthington. Meaning that the Huddersfield squad for the game will be :

Matt Glennon, Alex Smithies, Andy Holdsworth, Joe Skarz, Michael Collins, David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Chris Brandon, Robbie Williams, Danny Schofield, Frank Sinclair, Phil Jevons, Malvin Kamara, Luke Beckett, James Berrett, Andy Booth and Robert Page.



The referee for tonight's match is Andy Haines from Sunderland, and he will be assisted down the lines by Brian Parry from Peterlee in County Durham and Peter Quinn from Middlesbrough. Meanwhile the fourth official will be Mick McDonough from the Tyne and Wear area.