Huddersfield 2 Tranmere 0: Owls fan McCombe in the mood to down his old rivals at the Lane

McCombe, who had a header cleared off the line and shackled ex-Leeds United striker Enoch Showumni, revealed he is a life-long Wednesday supporter and is looking forward to a match against the Blades.

The centre-back said: “I’m from Pontefract, so Donny Rovers or Barnsley should be my team. But my mum’s cousin, Dean Barrick, played for Wednesday.

“We got tickets for games and the whole family would go to watch them. My dad was also a Wednesday fan and that’s how I got into it.”

He added that there would be nothing sweeter for an Owls fan than to end United’s unbeaten record so far this season in front of the United supporters down at Bramall Lane.

But how many Huddersfield fans will travel to see the mouth-watering top-of-the table clash is debatable due to a boycott over Sheffield United’s ticket prices.

Town go into the match unbeaten in 32 league games having rarely broken sweat in dispatching Tranmere thanks to the brilliance of winger Gary Roberts.

Contract rebel Roberts, an early substitute for the injured Danny Ward, hit the opener on 24 minutes with a cracking volley and then had a role in the game’s clincher.

Roberts took on a quick throw from goalkeeper Ian Bennett on 82 minutes and put Lee Novak in down the left flank. Novak squared for Scott Arfield to stroke home. Earlier, the former Ipswich star’s corner led to McCombe’s goal-bound header being cleared off the line and he also crossed for Alan Lee to go close.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Hunt, McCombe, A Kay, Woods; McDermott (Arfield 77), Miller, Robinson, Ward (Roberts 11); Lee, Rhodes (Novak 65). Unused substitutes: Colgan, Cooper.

Tranmere Rovers: Fon Williams; Raven, Taylor, Goodison, Buchanan; Akins, Power (Labadie 78), Weir, Welsh, McGurk (Bakayogo 74); Showumni (Tiryaki 62). Unused substitutes: Coughlin, M Kay.

Referee: Mr C Sarginson (Staffs)

Man of the match: Gary Roberts.