Defensive edge needed to tame talented Terriers, says Tranmere manager Les Parry

Feb 23 2010 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

THE defensive resilience providing the backbone of Tranmere’s fight for League One survival will be put to a searching test by Huddersfield Town tonight, manager Les Parry expects.

Rovers must attempt to contain a Terriers team packed with talent and reflecting some of the heaviest spending in the division.

Parry’s opposite number Lee Clark is committed to playing attacking football – and the formula has been good enough to take Huddersfield into a play-off spot.

The financial clout and adventurous on-the-field approach of the visitors provides a contrast to the combination of prudence and pragmatism Parry is using to dig Tranmere out of their troubles.

When the teams met at the Galpharm Stadium in December the script did not go as expected. Rovers were stretched to cope with Huddersfield’s attacking invention, but hit back to equalise three times and took away a valuable point.

Parry said: “You could see Huddersfield’s quality in the game at the Galpharm. They have some great players and most of them could play at a higher level than League One.

“If Huddersfield were to get promotion, they could cope in the Championship without changing any of the players. The players on their substitutes’ bench probably cost the same as our total wage bill. But it is only the 11 players on the pitch that you worry about.”

Parry added: “Huddersfield are the opposite side of the page to us. When we took over in October, the thing we needed to do was tighten up the back because our goals difference was atrocious. We have been able to do that. But there is a knock-on effect in that we don’t create as many chances.

“This has all the makings of a very attractive game.”

Tranmere’s confidence will be buoyed by a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient at Prenton Park last Saturday that lifted them out of the bottom four the first time in six months. Parry said: “The lads did exceptionally well.

“I know everyone wants to talk about the last eight minutes of the game when we had our backs to the wall after our lead was cut a single goal.

“But in the 80-odd minutes before that we were quite comfortable. To beat a team that was third in the division’s current form table was a brilliant performance.”

Huddersfield moved into sixth place in League One with a 2-0 win at Hartlepool last Saturday, following hard on the heels of a 2-1 win at Carlisle.

The Terriers are unbeaten in nine League One games since losing to leaders Norwich City on December 19. Clark said: “I have been delighted with the last two performances away from home.

“We have done everything we needed to do in terms of showing great determination, which has allowed us to play some very good football times.

“Tranmere have a lot to fight for. They will fight hard because the man they have in charge will demand that. Les Parry is doing a brilliant job.”

Rovers hope Ian Goodison will be able to shake off a troublesome ankle problem. Goodison missed training to have treatment yesterday. Midfielder Paul McLaren will have fitness test on a calf injury he picked up in the Orient game.