A second-half penalty from Southend striker Lee Barnard condemned the Terriers to only their second home defeat under the management of Lee Clark this afternoon.

The unlucky Tom Clarke was penalised for handball to give Barnard his opportunity and the home side struggled to break down their resilient visitors despite enjoying large spells of possession, particularly in the first-half.

Town lined up in a 4-4-2 formation for the game with 'keeper Smithies protected by a back four of home debutant Kelly, Butler, skipper Nathan Clarke and his brother Tom at right-back. Goodwin and Collins formed the central midfield duo with wingers Roberts and Ainsworth on either flank, leaving Pilkington to partner Cadamarteri in attack.

The game kicked on in gusty conditions and the Terriers started brightly, pushing the home side back into their own half. Unfortunately for Lee Clark, skipper Nathan was involved in an early clash of heads with striker Lee Barnard on the halfway line and immediately disappeared down the tunnel with physio Dave Buckby to get stitches to a bleeding head wound. His brother Town filled in at centre-back during his absence.

Town still attacked and created a good chance in the 6^th minute. A good run and cross from the right sided Ainsworth gave Danny Cadamarteri the ball at the near post but despite spinning neatly, his shot was blocked well by defender Peter Clarke.

Nathan Clarke reappeared with a Terry Butcher-style headband moments later as Town continued to pressurise their hosts, with Ainsworth seeing a lot of the ball down the Town right. However, the next chance came courtesy of Town's left side in the 15^th minute when new boy Kelly slid Cadamarteri a beautiful pass down the channel. Unfortunately, the striker could only hit his left-foot cross straight at goalkeeper Mildenhall.

Cadamarteri then turned provider a minute later, driving into the Southend half with the ball before playing a forward pass into the path of the onrushing Michael Collins. The Irishman couldn't take the ball in his stride though, with his touch knocking the ball dead.

Clark's men were controlling possession and looked very comfortable on the ball, but the Shrimpers were keeping a good compact shape and were making vital interceptions when the ball entered their third of the pitch.

BOOKING - Southend right back Simon Francis picked up the first yellow card of the game in the 22^nd minute for a late sliding tackle on Town left-back Kelly on the touchline.

Southend looked to have a bit of pace in attack and were looking to get strikers Robinson and Barnard in behind, but the best they could do early in the game was to create a moment of confusion between Nathan Clarke and Smithies on the edge of the Town box in the 27^th minute with a hopeful ball over the top. However, Barnard relieved the pressure by blatantly pushing the Town captain.

The visitors then created a good chance in the 34^th minute, only for one Southend player to deny another a clear chance at goal. A clever ball down the Town right from full-back Barrett found winger Moussa in space and he delivered a great cross towards the back post; the ball looked certain to be headed towards goal by winger Scannell, but striker Robinson got a faint touch on the ball just ahead of his teammate to deflect it to safety.

The in-form Shrimpers went close again two minutes later after Robinson played a clever ball in behind Kelly for Scannell to run onto - he turned inside and sent a useful-looking shot towards goal, only for Andy Butler to deflect the ball over the bar.

The away side finished strongly and went close to scoring in added time after midfielder McCormack and striker Robinson played a neat one-two on the edge of the Town box, with the latter firing a powerful volley inches over the bar.

HALF-TIME: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 SOUTHEND UNITED 0

Neither side made any changes during the interval but the Terriers started well again, with Anthony Pilkington pushing 'keeper Mildenhall to the limits with an early snapshot. The custodian pushed the ball around the post and from the resulting corner, Michael Collins turned the ball back across goal at the far post where Butler headed straight at the 'keeper.

It looked like the away side would take the lead in the 50^th minute when striker Robinson nipped in front of 'keeper Alex Smithies to latch onto a loose ball just outside the Town area. The Watford loanee skipped past Andy Butler and only had Tom Clarke to beat on the line, but dragged his shot well wide of goal - much to the delight of the watching Town fans.

The Shrimpers went close two minutes later when big centre-back Dervite nodded a McCormack free-kick towards goal, but he did not get the necessary direction on the ball to test Smithies.

Lionel Ainsworth then went on a great run at the other end of the pitch in the 56^th minute - he collected a short pass from Tom Clarke on the right before driving infield and sending a powerful shot towards goal that caught defender Dervite flush in the face.

SUB - Lee Clark had seen enough and decided to make his first change a minute later, with Andy Booth replacing Ainsworth. This change meant that Pilkington moved to the right flank, with Boothy joining Cadamarteri in attack.

BOOKING - Andy Butler was booked in the 57^th minute after coming off worst in a clash with striker Robinson just inside the Town half.

Disaster struck for Town in the 62^nd minute when referee Webster awarded the visitors a penalty. Winger Moussa had skipped past the challenge of Anthony Pilkington on the Town right before delivering a whipped cross into the area that struck the hand of Tom Clarke.

GOAL - Up stepped striker Lee Barnard to send Alex Smithies the wrong way and net his ninth goal of the current campaign from 12 yards out.

SUB - Michael Flynn was introduced to the game by Clark in the 65^th minute - he replaced Jim Goodwin.

Town tried to fight back in the 69^th minute through a quickly taken free-kick, taken by Michael Collins. The midfielder spotted Danny Cadamarteri in space just inside the Southend box and the striker did well to turn and shoot, only for 'keeper Mildenhall to smother the ball to his right side.

Two minutes later a massive long-throw from the bandaged Nathan Clarke found the head of Boothy at the near post, but his effort went wide with several defenders putting heavy pressure on him.

Only a superb last ditch tackle from Butler denied Robinson a clear shot at goal from close range in the 78^th minute after the speedy striker knocked the ball over the head of Nathan Clarke.

BOOKING - Striker Lee Barnard was booked by the referee immediately afterwards for a show of dissent.

BOOKING - Substitute Flynn followed him into the book in the 82^nd minute after he made a lunging tackle on a Southend midfielder.

A Robinson snapshot was well saved by Alex Smithies at close range a minute later with striker Barnard in close attendance.

SUB - Southend made a substitution in the 84^th minute, with Damian Scannell being replaced by Jean Francois Christophe.

BOOKING - Southend midfielder Anthony Grant then became the latest player to get a yellow card in the 85^th minute for simulation.

A great cross from the left from Kelly a minute later found the head of Andy Butler, who had stayed up from a previous set-piece. The big defender rose above his marker at the back post, but sent his header wide of Mildenhall's left-hand post.

Southend defender Dervite then produced an excellent defensive header to clear a good Pilkington free-kick behind for a corner in the 89^th minute with Andy Booth ghosting in for a free header.

Manager Clark threw Andy Butler forward as a makeshift third striker in the four minutes of added time and the gamble almost paid off when a brilliantly controlled volley from Roberts on the edge of the box was diverted towards goal by Booth, only for 'keeper Mildenhall to readjust well and save.

FULL-TIME: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 SOUTHEND UNITED 1

Town's Team:

Alex Smithies, Michael Collins, Nathan Clarke (c), Danny Cadamarteri, Jim Goodwin (Michael Flynn 65), Tom Clarke, Gary Roberts, Andy Butler, Anthony Pilkington, Martin Kelly, Lionel Ainsworth (Andy Booth 56)

Unused Subs: Simon Eastwood, Andy Holdsworth, James Berrett

Town Bookings: Andy Butler (57), Michael Flynn (82)

Southend Bookings: Simon Francis (22), Lee Barnard (79), Anthony Grant (85)

Attendance: 12,203

Visitors: 365