Leyton Orient set to welcome Huddersfield Town to E10
8:20am Friday 10th February 2012 in Latest Football News By Matt Bass
Kevin Lisbie netted his first Orient goal at Huddersfield earlier in the campaign. Picture: Action Images
Saturday’s opponents Huddersfield Town were one of just a handful of League One sides to be in action at the weekend with the cold snap calling a halt to much of the action.
While the O’s saw their trip to Oldham Athletic postponed, Lee Clark’s Terriers hosted MK Dons and were held to a draw by their play-off rivals.
Clark’s side have impressed again in their pursuit of promotion this season, but it is one in their ranks that has drawn much of the attention.
Striker Jordan Rhodes has netted 29 times in all competitions so far, including five last month at Wycombe Wanderers as well as being the sole scorer for the Terriers in a 4-4 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Orient might consider themselves lucky that Rhodes only made the subs bench when the two sides met at the Galpharm Stadium, with the striker unable to beat Lee Butcher with the 20 minutes he was given.
That meeting at the end of September proved to be the catalyst for a fine spell of form for Russell Slade’s men, as they began a nine-game unbeaten league run.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the closing stages, a frantic final ten minutes saw Orient leave with a deserved share of the spoils.
Town’s Jamie McCombe was dismissed with seven minutes to play before Kevin Lisbie headed in his first O’s goal.
And with the game entering injury-time, Ben Chorley struck from the edge of the penalty area to ensure it was Orient celebrating at the final whistle.
Defeat at Carlisle United aside, Slade’s men have been impressive away from home in 2012 but have not yet given their home support a win to cheer.
A draw with Chesterfield was followed by defeat to Colchester United two weeks later, and Huddersfield will prove stiff opposition in the O’s quest for a home maximum.
Town are unbeaten in the last two months with their most recent loss coming at the hands of Bournemouth at the beginning of December, but have only managed draws in their last two fixtures.
Their record away from home also makes for strong reading – enjoying five victories and eight draws on the road, while suffering defeat just once – that coming at division leaders Charlton Athletic.
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