I've been hanging back from writing about this season's progress because I've been waiting for one of two things to happen: either we lose or we beat Nottingham Forest's record run of 42 games undefeated in the league. Well, I'm happy to announce we beat the record. Once more, Huddersfield Town make history. On Saturday we played Notts County at the Galpharm Stadium and beat them 2-1 (should have been 2-0 but we got sloppy in the dying seconds of added time). That win took us to an amazing tally of 43 games without a loss. Yes, a lot of those games were draws (18 to Forest's 21) and yes, we have actually lost some matches since the run began. As Peterborough United supporters were quick to point out on Twitter, we lost to them in the Play-Off Finals in May and we've been knocked out of all cup competitions this season. The fact is cup matches and play -offs don't count. End of.
I'm glad I was at the match. It will go down as one of my treasured memories of following Huddersfield. I'm not as good as my husband is at instant recall. He can spout facts and figues, names and numbers, at the drop of a hat. I'm pretty rubbish at knowing who was manager in 1989 or whatever but I know I'll remember Saturday. Despite manager Lee Clark had told everyone to focus on getting the three points and not to be distracted I couldn't help it. I was distracted.
I was especially distracted in the first half when we played muted football. Town allowing themselves to be pinned back by County, whose game plan seemed to be to hold up play as often as possible by barging and shoving. Forward Alan Lee was on the receiving end of these needling challenges time and time again but it was Lee who came away with a yellow card in the first half.
Luckily County's spoiler tactics didn't work in the second half. As so often happens, Town emerged from the tunnel ready to rock. Who else but Jordan Rhodes, now a full International player for Scotland and much scouted, scored within 2 minutes. As the Yorkshire Post put it, the goal was '... a classic example of the centre-forward's craft. He started the move straight from the kick-off by setting Jack Hunt on his way down the right. Hunt played a one-two with Scott Arfield while Rhodes zipped into the box from deep to be ready to head in the defender's pinpoint cross at the far post.'
More drama followed when Alan Lee, reacting to being fouled again (by Sam Soje this time) got a second yellow for retailating. Town were down to ten men but you couldn't tell. Captain Reliable Peter Clarke marshalled his defence and regrouped. When Rhodes' second went in on 65 we knew the day, the three points and the record, were ours.
The winning run could well end now. League One is tight at the top and we meet Charlton, the league leaders, a week today. Staying second isn't going to be easy but I sincerely hope Town can keep the momentum going and gain automatic promotion this season. They deserve it. They are playing neat, passing football and have enough strength and talent to justify a place in the Championship.
Current Standings:
Charlton 43
Huddersfield Town 38
Sheffield Wednesday 36
MK Dons 33
Sheffield Utd 32
