Saints fixtures offered memorable moments
DAVID Wagner has made it clear he believes Huddersfield Town star Aaron Mooy will not be fit to play for Australia in the Asian Cup.
The Socceroos have named Mooy in their 23-man squad for the tournament which starts in the UAE on January 5 – even though he has been ruled out until February by the HUDDERSFIELD Town welcome Southampton to the John Smith’s Stadium for the final pre-Christmas fixture this weekend.
The Saints have only visited this corner of West Yorkshire three times since 1994, the last being a 0-0 draw in the third fixture of Town’s inaugural Premier League season.
The draw followed two victories over Crystal Palace and Newcastle United and ensured David Wagner’s side remained unbeaten in the top flight in a blistering start to the campaign.
The south coast club’s prior visit in 2010 was another happy day for Town, as then Terriers manager Lee Clark orchestrated a 2-0 win, with goals from Anthony Pilkington and Icelandic midfielder Joey Gudjonsson keeping the Yorkshire side in the League One play-off places.
Between 1971 and 2009 there is a large gap in which the teams didn’t meet, broken up only by a 1994 League Cup clash.
A Matt Le Tissier inspired Southampton routed Town 5-0 on aggregate in the two-legged tie, the striker scoring all five goals to send his side into round three.
The top-flight match-up between the sides in August 1970 was a memorable one, as a 3-1 home win at Leeds Road sent Town to the top of Football League Division One.
Although Huddersfield gained a creditable 1-1 draw on their visit to the St Mary’s Stadium last season, their previous away encounters were not so fortunate.
Town suffered both a 5-0 and a 4-1 defeat on two trips to the South Coast in 2010.