An entertaining first-half is brought to an end as this Yorkshire derby lives up to all its pre-match billing. Join me after the interval for what should be an enthralling second half.
Half Time Huddersfield 1 v Sheff Wed 0
45+3 Half-time: Huddersfield 1 v 0 Sheff Wed
45+3 Pilkington went for another spectacular effort but his volley went wide.
45+3 Kilbane’s shot from the edge of box charged down for a corner.
45+3 Three minutes of added time put up by the fourth official
44 Could their extra freshness work for them now as Town begin to tire??
43 If Wednesday could snatch one back now it could set up a pulsating second half.
42 Town just letting to take some of the sting out of the game. A lovely series of passes end s with Scott Arfield firing just wide of Weaver’s post from 20-yards.
40 Chance!!! Beevers powers a header over from another Wednesday corner. Could set plays be their best route back into this game???
38 Chance!!! Smithies double save to deny Mellor and Purse from a Wednesday corner. Both are performed from more or less point blank. Top class goalkeeping!!!
37 This is a great advert for League One. Lee Peltier has just drawn yet another save from weaver. He is definitely earning his money today.
35 Kilbane booked for a studs up challenge on darren Purse. Some might feel that in today’s modern game, he is rather lucky to remain on the pitch after a tackle like that.
Yellow Card35 Kilbane
33 Horace Horlicks has emailed in saying: This is a cracking match so far. I think there has to be goals in it. I’m going for a 3-3 draw.
33 I’ve not heard a lot from either set of fans please feel free to drop me a line on your thoughts on this Yorkshire derby.
32 A collision between Smithies and Mellor as he again races off his line to clear danger. Mellor is left dazed as a result. Smithies is showing he is a ‘keeper with no fear.
30 Neil Mellor had a sight of goal snuffed out by Town duo Peter Clark and Smithies who raced out to collect the ball.
28 Chance!!! Smithies has just tipped over a dipping Tommy Miller free-kick that would have brought the Owls level.
27 In all fairness, the home deserve the lead and have looked that little bit sharper. Maybe that 16 day lay off is coming back to haunt them?
26 Pilkington picked up the ball on the right flank this time and cut inside before unleashing a tremendous shot that flew into the top corner. Weaver had no chance of stopping it.
Goal26 Goal. Pilkington
25 Huddersfiled are starting to have more of the ball now. Their fluid passing and constant deliveries into the box are starting to cause real danger.
23 Chance!!! Weaver is again called into action as a free-kick to the back post is repelled by the Wednesday ‘keeper.
22 So far the game is quite evenly matched, with both teams having sights at goal.
20 Gary Teale smashes the resulting free-kick into the midrift of Alex Smithies.
Yellow Card19 Kay booked
19 Morrison brought down by Anthony Kay. free-kick in a promising position.
18 Johnson and Morrison combined to great effect but the Jamaica international dragged his shot wide. Poor effort from a promising position. But both players are looking very bright.
17 Kevin Kilbane fired a shot from 25-yards after the ball broke to him on the edge of the box. Comfortably saved by Weaver.
15 Jermaine Johnson produced a lovely piece of wing play and put a tremendous near post cross but his strikers failed to anticipate his cross.
14 Tommy Miller sends a looping header over that is watched by Smithies.
13 Alex Smithies just raced off his line to clear some danger.
12 Huddersfield are looking really bright and playing some incisive one-two’s.
12 Pilkington has just put in a delightful cross that looked destined for Rhodes’ head but it was cleared by Beevers.
10 Wednesday have not played in 16 days. Could this prove to be a factor laster on in the game.
8 Pilkington is looking really classy in these early stages. A joy to watch already.
7 Chance!!!! Huddersfield are getting some real joy down the left. Anthony Pilkington in particular is looking dangerous. He’s just glided past two wednesday defenders before unleashing a shot that Nicky Weaver got a firm hand too.
6 Chance!!! Mark Beevers thumps a header off the post from a corner to almost give Wednesday the lead.
5 Good response by Wednesday. Clinton Morrison fires wide from inside the box with an acrobatic attempt.
4 Gary Teale’s promising run comes to nothing down the left.
3 Tommy Spurr long throw for wednesday cleared by the home defence.
2 Jon Otsemobor blocks a cross to put ball out for a corner.
2 Lee Clarke’s team have flown out of the traps.
1 Chance for Huddersfield straight away John Rhodes shot is smoothered by keeper.
Just a little information from Skybet before we get on the way. Both teams are too inconsistent to perhaps have title aspirations and punters are finding it hard to predict today with all outcomes backed.
Rhodes the Town hit man is the guy for first scorer money at 9/2 and over 2.5 goals is looking the bet with the 5/6 coming under pressure after sustained support.
The teams are due out soon and kick-off is not long away…..
Lee Clarke is set to hand a Huddersfield home debut to Kevin Kilbane following his loan move from Hull.
His opposite number Alan Irvine has two players ruled out in Lewis Buxton (hamstring) and Giles Coke (knee). However, Neil Mellor returns to line the attack.
The game will pit fifth against sixth today with a win for either team putting them up to second. The festive period has been a mixed bag for both teams.
Huddersfield have just picked up one point in nine, while Wednesday have been inactive due to the adverse weather conditions.
Huddersfield: Smithies, Peltier, Peter Clarke, Kay, Ridehalgh, Pilkington, Kilbane, Arfield, Roberts, Rhodes, Novak. Subs: Bennett, Gudjonsson, Tom Clarke, McCombe, Lee, Afobe, Carey.
Sheff Wed: Weaver, Otsemobor, Purse, Beevers, Spurr, Teale, O’Connor, Miller, Johnson, Morrison, Mellor. Subs: Jameson, Hinds, Heffernan, Jones, Potter, Sedgwick, Palmer.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
I will be bringing you the teams shortly but if you would like to get in touch with me with any views or opinions on how you see this Bank Holiday clash going, please email me at [email protected].
Welcome to today’s intriguing Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday at the Galpharm Stadium.
Live updates will appear here from 1215 GMT.
