Walsall - Huddersfield

The Saddlers are fighting for their lives in League One, currently big 7 points below the line. They got new manager (caretaker) Dean Smith who started the campaign with two away draws (Tranmere 3-3 and B.Rovers 2-2). They also showed some good spirit, both times coming to point from behind. Goalie  Walker and midfielder Taundry are injury doubts. Walsall conceded 12 goals in last four league games.

Before the start of the season, Hudders (with Sheff Wed) were my favourites for direct promotion. They’re still close to it (one point less than 2nd S’ton), but really need some consistency. They beat mentioned Wednesday two weeks ago and it could be a turning point for them, before strong finish. Defender Carey finished the loan and returned to Celtic, other defender Kadar started his deal. No injury worries for boss Lee Clark.

Walsall gained some confidence, I’m sure they won’t show with a white flag and will try to hurt the giants. That should guarantee an entertaining afternoon at Bescot Stadium. Nine of their last eleven encounters produced three or more goals. I see the same scenario once again.

Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.75 bet-at-home
Stake: 8/10

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Huddersfield Town - Tranmere Rovers

Huddersfield have excellent infrastructure, more than good team for this level of competition, but always stay short for a one step. In my opinion, they’re in top 3 teams this season (beside Sheff.Wed. and S’ton) and maybe this time they can make a serious campaign for a direct promotion. The crucial thing there should be a good start. They hammered Notts County in the first round, 3-0 on the road and also away, defeated Carlisle in the Cup 1-0. At their home, Huddersfield don’t have a mercy. Last season, just one defeat in whole season (14 wins) and goal difference +30. Manager Lee Clark has no injury concerns and will probably name the same squad from the 1^st round.

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Rovers are, in my opinion, main contenders for moving down. Last season were only one point above the line and had a terrible away record with just three wins out of 23 games (defeated were bottom sides Gillingham, Stockport and Wycombe) and scored only 15 goals (conceded 40)! WBA loan signing, Kayleden Brown, could have his debut, but defenders Broomes and Cathalina are out. Midfielders Taylor and Mahon are long term absentees. First round defeat, on the road vs. Oldham 1-2, probably announced a start of a season of struggling for the Rovers.

 

Huddersfield are far above today’s opponent and I could see a goal fiesta here. My only limitation is a possibility to take them easily, although Tranmere’s Cup win over Walsall calls on caution. But with any attitude, they should win this comfortably.

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Bet: Huddersfield -1ah

Odd: 1.81 Pinnacle

Stake: 8/10

Millwall 2-0 Huddersfield WON

Steve Morison and Paul Robinson were the heroes as Millwall defeated Huddersfield to reach the League One play-off final for the second successive year.
Morison has been sensational for the Lions this season and tapped home his 23rd of the campaign in all competitions after Town keeper Alex Smithies parried a cross into his path midway through the opening half. 
As the match became increasingly stretched after the break, Scott Barron might have calmed the home supporters' nerves but he saw his strike rebound to safety off the crossbar. 
However, Robinson headed home a corner from Barron with 10 minutes remaining to settle an edgy, at times error-strewn but always engrossing match that the home team deserved to win to secure a 2-0 aggregate victory after a goalless first leg.
Millwall lost just once at home during the regular season and their victory on Wednesday keeps alive their hopes of securing their first victory through the play-offs at the sixth attempt. 
Manager Kenny Jackett will be hoping his team can go one better than last year's defeat against Scunthorpe when they meet Swindon at Wembley on 29 May. 
The Lions defeated the Robins 3-2 at the New Den in their final home game of the regular season and can go into their final match of the campaign full of confidence after a strong performance against a Terriers side left to rue missed opportunities in the first leg.
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett:
"I'm delighted, very proud, but that's half the job done. 
"The players put in a terrific performance and brought the crowd into play with their effort and application. Huddersfield are a very good team and you look at their average age and they will come again. 
"To keep them to a clean sheet over 180 minutes is a great achievement, but we are halfway there." 
Huddersfield manager Lee Clark:
"I feel the two goals we have given away aren't the greatest, but they were little mistakes. 
"We had some good situations but didn't show the belief. We have some good young players but maybe sometimes I have more confidence in them than they have in themselves. 
"Come the end of June, when we report back for pre-season, we have to realise that we don't want to feel this feeling again."

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Monday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester City could be on the verge of establishing a link with French side AC Arles-Avignon which would see City loaning young players to the Ligue 2 outfit in order that they receive game time.(The Sun) 
Yossi Benayoun's agent maintains the midfielder is happy at Liverpool and not planning a summer exit to Manchester City. "It is a great compliment that there is interest from high level teams across Europe, but Yossi is very happy at Liverpool and only in the summer agreed a new four-year contract," said Ronen Kastav.(Virgin Media) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is once again preparing to raid former club Portsmouth to sign England keeper David James for £1m in January. Since taking over at Spurs, Redknapp has signed Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar from Pompey.(The Sun) 
European champions Barcelona are closing in on a January swoop for Manchester City forward Robinho, with sporting director Txiki Begiristain saying that the Brazilian is "a very interesting footballer and could play for us in the Champions League".(Daily Mirror) 
Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell - who left Notts County in September after only one game - wants a short-term loan move to a Championship club to earn a Premier League return in January. (Daily Mirror) 
Stoke are lining up a move for Huddersfield's highly-rated goalkeeper Alex Smithies, but they may have to part with £3m in order to land the 19-year-old. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are planning a shock January raid for Liverpool's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

England coach Fabio Capello was refused a handshake by referee Damir Skomina after subjecting the official to a four-minute rant in the tunnel in the aftermath of England's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ukraine on Saturday. Capello was incensed by the decision to send off Robert Green and the confusion caused by the ref's original incorrect decision to dismiss Rio Ferdinand in the 13th minute of the match in Dnipropetrovsk.(The Sun) 
Striker Emile Heskey concedes he may have to leave Aston Villa - for whom he has started only one Premier League game this season - in January to keep alive his hopes of a place in England boss Fabio Capello's squad for the 2010 World Cup finals.(The Sun) 
Chelsea and England defender John Terry has admitted he sledged former Blues teammate Andriy Shevchenko prior to the striker's penalty miss for Ukraine in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over England on Saturday.(The Sun)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to escape a touchline ban, despite apologising to referee Alan Wiley for questioning the official's fitness.(Daily Mirror) 
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is confident he will be back on the pitch sooner than expected despite being told he faces around a month on the sidelines. Ronaldo limped out of Portugal's 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Hungary on Saturday and medical tests indicated he would be out of action for "three to four weeks". (Press Association)
Former Leeds boss Dennis Wise, who until earlier this year was executive director of football at Newcastle, and ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink are set to make dramatic returns to football - with non-League Chalfont St Peter and Woking respectively.(The Sun) 
Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan says he fears he has played his last game for the club after revealing that manager Roy Keane has not spoken to him in recent weeks. Garvan has not featured at all in the last eight games for Ipswich, who sit bottom of the Championship without a league win yet this season.(Daily Mirror) 
Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung's new Birmingham regime begins today following his takeover at St Andrews and the new ownership team will sit down with Blues manager Alex McLeish this week to discuss their working relationship and potential transfer targets.(Daily Mirror) 
Tyneside businessman Barry Moat is set for crunch talks with Newcastle chiefs on Tuesday over his proposed £100m takeover of the north-east club.(The Sun) 
Liverpool owner Tom Hicks will allow co-owner George Gillett to sell his 50% stake in the club should the latter find a buyer. American Hicks, who is not interested in selling his own 50% stake in the club, has the right of veto over any proposed sale of Gillett's shares but he is willing to forgo this.(The Times) 
Huddersfield manager Lee Clark says he has no intention of selling star striker Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 11 goals since joining from Ipswich in the summer. "There is no price on Jordan's head," said Clark. "I don't have to worry about him being sold because we have a very wealthy owner."(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Argentina coach Diego Maradona celebrated his side's last-minute winner against Peru in the crucial World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires with a jubilant belly slide. Martin Palermo's goal, which secured a 2-1 win over Peru, lifted Argentina to fourth place, with a game to go in the South American group, from which the top four qualify.(Daily Star) 
The internet coverage of England's match with Ukraine - the first national team match to be shown exclusively online - has been hailed a success by Kentaro and Perform, the companies behind the transmission, after nearly half a million people subscribed to the programme. (The Guardian)
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