Rapid return to action suits Town boss Clark

Lee CLARK insists a trip to Southampton will provide the perfect tonic after Huddersfield Town blew their chance to move into the automatic promotion places on Boxing Day.

With the visit of Hartlepool United to the Galpharm Stadium being the only game in League One to beat the Arctic weather on Sunday, the Terriers had been hoping to leapfrog Sheffield Wednesday into second place with victory.

Instead, the North East side claimed a shock 1-0 win to leave Town needing a lift from their trip to St Mary's, where last season Clark's men lost 5-0.

The Huddersfield manager said: "I was absolutely gutted that we had missed out on getting into the top two (on Boxing Day).

"It was very hard to take but at least we have this quick turnaround.

"We will have to produce a great performance at Southampton and that is what we are aiming to do.

"I know that, both individually and collectively, my players can perform to a much higher standard than they did on Boxing Day and it is good we haven't been able to dwell on that game with Southampton just around the corner.

"We had to come in on Monday morning bright and breezy and get our heads together."

The Town squad flew south yesterday and Clark added: "The temperatures in the Southampton area have been on the plus side for the last four or five days, so we should be fine."

Last six games: Southampton WLWDWL, Huddersfield Town LWWWWL.

Last time: Southampton 5 Huddersfield Town 0; March 2, 2010; League One.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).