MATCH PREVIEW: MIDDLESBROUGH (A)

23 December 2019

Everything you need to know ahead of Middlesbrough vs Town

- Preview ahead of Middlesbrough vs Town
- All the info on Jonathan Woodgate’s side
- Tickets still available for the game

Huddersfield Town travel further North to take on Middlesbrough on Thursday 26 December in the Sky Bet Championship at the Riverside Stadium; 3pm kick off.

The Terriers go into Thursday’s game on the back of a dramatic home win over Nottingham Forest, with Christopher Schindler and Steve Mounié making it onto the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Woodgate’s side will be wanting to build on their 2-1 win against Stoke City last time out.

This is the second time the two sides have met this season. They met just two months ago, in October, when Middlesbrough travelled to the John Smith’s Stadium for a 0-0 draw.

THE OPPOSITION

Ahead of Thursday’s game, The Reds sit 20th in the Sky Bet Championship, just one point behind the Terriers.

Jonathan Woodgate.jpg

Jonathan Woodgate’s side will be looking to build on their good record at home. They have picked up 19 of their 24 points so far this season whilst on home ground.

As aforementioned, Middlesbrough will be hoping to make the most of their good fortunes at home and extend their unbeaten home run to six games.

ONES TO WATCH

Ashley Fletcher

The forward joined Middlesbrough in July 2017 for £6.5 million from West Ham United. His first goal for the club came as the last of three in a 3–0 win against Scunthorpe United on 22 August 2017 in the EFL Cup. Fletcher’s found himself a mainstay in Woodgate’s starting XI, making 22 appearances for Boro’, including 19 starts. So far this season he’s found the back of the net four times and had three assists.

Ashley Fletcher.jpg

Marcus Tavernier

The 20-year-old midfielder joined Middlesbrough’s Academy at Under-14 level, becoming a regular for the side in the Premier League 2. He made his professional debut for the Club in the second round of the EFL Club against Scunthorpe United in August 2017. This season has seen Tavernier make 17 appearances, score two goals and have two assists.

Marcus Tavernier.jpg

Daniel Ayala

The Spanish-born centre-back has been a mainstay of Woodgate’s starting XI, starting for Boro’ 20 times so far this season. Ayala has been wearing the captain’s armband for Middlesbrough while George Friend is injured and has one goal to his name in the current Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Daniel Ayala.jpg

TEAM NEWS - TOWN

Tommy Elphick (knee), Alex Pritchard (knee), Fraizer Campbell (hip), Collin Quaner (hip) and Lewis O’Brien (calf) were all unavailable for the Nottingham Forest game.

TEAM NEWS - MIDDLESBROUGH

Anfernee Dijksteel (knee), George Friend (tendon), Darren Randolph (thigh) and Ryan Shotton (ankle) are ruled out of Thursday’s game due to their respective injury problems.

There's a 50/50 chance that Britt Assombalonga will feature as he currently tries to shake off an injury sustained against Charlton Athletic.

Paddy McNair and Marcus Browne also won’t feature on Thursday due to suspensions.

TICKETS

Tickets are still on sale for the game at the Riverside Stadium – CLICK HERE to get yours now!

Tickets will remain on sale from Town's Ticket Office until 11am on Tuesday 24 December 2019.

Town fans will be able to buy tickets on match day at the Riverside Stadium, paying IN CASH ONLY from the away Ticket Office at the ground.

KIT

Town will be wearing the navy away kit at the Riverside Stadium on Thursday – CLICK HERE to buy yours ahead of the game!

Please note that there are very limited sizes available as the away kit is so popular.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Huddersfield Town fans that live outside the UK can watch the game live with an International Match Pass for £5.

Supporters who are in the UK will be able to listen to in-game commentary from the Riverside Stadium if they purchase an Audio Match Pass. The audio commentary is also available to those supporters who have monthly or season iFollow HTAFC passes.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to iFollow HTAFC!

Match Reports

REPORT: BORO 1-0 TOWN

26 December 2019

Terriers lose a tight game in the North East

A first half goal from Middlesbrough’s teenage wing back Djed Spence settled a tight affair at the Riverside Stadium, but the Terriers will be disappointed not to take anything from the game after spurning some big second half chances.

Town lost Jonathan Hogg to injury midway through the opening 45 minutes and conceded the only goal barely 10 minutes later, but the game’s two big chances came in the second half when Jon Gorenc Stanković headed over and Steve Mounié fired over from close range.

Manager Danny Cowley selected the same starting XI that defeated Nottingham Forest a few days earlier but changed the shape in response to Boro’s 5-4-1. Juninho Bacuna moved back into central midfield in a fluid 4-3-3 alongside Trevoh Chalobah.

However, it was the home side that started well. Left wing back Hayden Coulson volleyed well off target inside four minutes before towering centre half Daniel Ayala headed a free kick over under pressure from Mounié.

Town settled down and started to dominate the ball soon after, passing patiently between the defence and midfield whilst probing the Boro back line.

Top scorer Karlan Grant had a penalty claim waved away in the 21st minute after going down under an Ayala challenge.

Hogg, visibly struggling by this point with a hip problem, was soon withdrawn, meaning an early – but welcome – return for Lewis O’Brien after his own four game injury absence.

Boro looked a threat on the counter and scored from the only real chance of the first half in the 37th minute. Marcus Tavernier was afforded too much space between Town’s defence and midfield and collected the ball before advancing. He slipped a pass left to striker Ashley Fletcher, who squeezed a low cross between the bodies in a crowded box for Spence – who was impressive on the right – to slot past a diving Grabara.

The game’s other chances of note came in the second period. Boro had started the better, but Town created two big chances around the hour mark.

Ayala misplaced a back-pass out for a Town corner and was almost made to pay. With Boro keeping a close eye on Mounié at the back post, Grant instead delivered to the near where Stanković charged onto the ball. Unfortunately for the Town fans at that side of the pitch, his headed flashed narrowly over the bar.

There was an even bigger chance spurned barely five minutes later through Mounié. Some neat interplay between O’Brien and Kachunga set the latter away down the right and his cross was miskicked into the striker’s path by Jonny Howson. Somewhat caught off guard, the Benin international volleyed awkwardly over from close range, drawing ironic cheers from the disbelieving home supporters.

Town were continuing to press during this period. Bacuna soon came to life, first testing goalkeeper Aynsley Pears with a shot from range that needed pushing away before curing over on his weaker left side.

At the other end, Coulson placed a shot wide after more good work from Spence on the right before Fletcher saw a shot blocked well by Grabara, who got his angles right.

Bacuna forced another save from Pears late on, but the late charge never quite materialised. Instead, Boro had a goal ruled out for offside late on and O’Brien was needed to block a late Tavernier effort.

Town’s team vs Middlesbrough (4-3-3)
Kamil Grabara; Florent Hadergjonaj, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Christopher Schindler (c), Danny Simpson; Juninho Bacuna, Jonathan Hogg (Lewis O’Brien, 24’), Trevoh Chalobah; Karlan Grant, Steve Mounié, Elias Kachunga

Unused substitutes
Joel Coleman; Josh Koroma, Jaden Brown, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Demeaco Duhaney, Matty Daly

Town bookings
Juninho Bacuna (43’); Kamil Grabara (77’), Lewis O’Brien (82’), Karlan Grant (90’)

Gate
25,313

Town Fans
2,004

Standings