MATCH PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY (H)

9 February 2020

Everything you need to know ahead of Town vs Cardiff City

- Previewing Town vs Cardiff City
- All the details on Neil Harris’ side
- Tickets still available for the game

The Terriers host Cardiff City at the John Smith’s Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday 12 February; 7.45pm kick off.

Town go into their second consecutive home game following a 2-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers.

The Bluebirds also come into this week looking to build on their 1-0 win away at Luton Town.

In the reverse fixture in August 2019, Huddersfield suffered a narrow 2-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium, failing to take home the points despite their best efforts.

THE OPPOSITION

Ahead of this week’s fixture, Cardiff sit eighth in the Sky Bet Championship.

Neil Harris.jpg

Neil Harris’ side will be looking to alter their away form, having picked up only 17 of their 46 points whilst on the road this season so far.

The Bluebirds will also be looking to build on their current good spell as they come into the game hoping to extend their unbeaten run to nine.

ONES TO WATCH

SEAN MORRISON

The former Terrier joined Cardiff back in 2014 and has held firm in the defensive line-up ever since. Attaining City’s captaincy in 2016, the centre-back is both a pillar to the Bluebirds’ defence and a scoring threat. So far this season he’s made 26 appearances and bagged two goals.

Sean Morrison.jpg

LEE TOMLIN

Cardiff’s top goal scorer joined the Club in 2017 from Bournemouth and has made significant contributions to the Club as an attacking midfielder. The 31-year-old has seven goals and 25 appearances in the 2019/20 campaign so far, and signed a new two-and-a-half year contract last month.

Lee Tomlin.jpg

JOE RALLS

Ralls climbed up Cardiff’s youth rankings and joined the First Team ahead of the 2011/12 season after graduating from the Club’s Academy. Ralls has played for all but one season ever since, becoming a key part of Cardiff’s midfield. He’s been hampered with injury this season, but not before he scored a hattrick against Birmingham in November 2019.

Joe Ralls.jpg

TEAM NEWS – TOWN

Manager Danny Cowley will detail Huddersfield Town’s latest team news at his press conference on Tuesday 11 February 2020.

Danny was without Tommy Elphick (knee), Collin Quaner (hip), Kamil Grabara (head), Karlan Grant (knock), Alex Pritchard (knee) and Matty Daly (hip) during Town’s game against QPR.

TEAM NEWS – CARDIFF

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is thought to be unavailable for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.

Neil Harris was without Joe Ralls (glutes) during their game against Luton Town.

TICKETS

There are still tickets available for the game at the John Smith’s Stadium – CLICK HERE to get yours!

KIT

Town will be in the iconic blue-and-white stripes once against on Wednesday – CLICK HERE to buy yours ahead of the match!

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 but unable to make it to the match will be able to watch the match live with a Match Pass for £10.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 0-3 CARDIFF

12 February 2020

Disappointing evening for the Terriers

Town fell to a disappointing three goal defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium at the hands of Cardiff City in the latest Sky Bet Championship fixture.

Despite enjoying the first 25 minutes and looking threatening, the Bluebirds then scored a quickfire double and went on to enjoy their evening in West Yorkshire as Town toiled without reward.

Manager Danny Cowley named an unchanged XI from Saturday’s 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, meaning skipper Christopher Schindler made his 150th appearance for the Club whilst midfielder Juninho Bacuna brought up his 50th league game for Town.

The Terriers looked buoyed by the weekend’s win and carried that confidence into the midweek encounter.

With most of the game being played in the Cardiff half, in the opening 20 minutes, Bacuna registered the game’s first chance, heading Elias Kachunga’s cross at Cardiff’s former Town ‘keeper Alex Smithies.

Bacuna, who’s older brother Leandro was on the Cardiff bench, was making himself known in the opening exchanges. His curled effort from the edge of the area demanded close attention from Smithies, who parried over.

Town started the better of the two, but it was the visitors who jumped into a 28th minute lead. Josh Murphy beat the offside trap before racing through on goal and calmly slotting the ball over Jonas Lössl for the opener.

Danny Cowley’s side attempted to hit straight back and nearly got the equaliser less than two minutes later. Steve Mounié swept Harry Toffolo’s ball from the left just wide of the target from the centre of the area.

The game’s next chance came at the other end, and it was one that the Bluebirds made the most of to go 2-0 up. Will Vaulks connected with a corner from the right to double the visitors’ advantage.

Two nearly became three after Lee Tomlin raced through on goal following a counter-attack, but his chipped effort sailed over the bar after Lewis O’Brien did just about enough to put off the Cardiff man.

It was then Lössl who ensured that the lead stayed at two in added time, tipping over Joe Bennett’s free kick from around 25 yards out.

Town pressured for the goal that would get them back into the game after the break. Emile Smith Rowe stung the hands of Smithies, with the Town Academy graduate doing enough to clear it from danger.

The visitors continued to hold firm and extended their lead just over halfway into the second 45. Lössl did well to deny Junior Hoilett’s original effort before Callum Paterson finished the rebound at the back post.

The Bacuna brothers were on the pitch after the visitors introduced Leandro from the bench, shortly before the goal. In the closing stages, he came close to finding the target himself, dragging an effort wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Town couldn’t find the target in the time that remained, and after three minutes of added time, referee Darren England brought an end to the encounter at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Next up for Town is a trip to Pride Park to face Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 15 February 2020; 3pm kick-off.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)
Jonas Lössl; Harry Toffolo, Christopher Schindler (c), Richard Stearman, Danny Simpson, Lewis O’Brien, Jonathan Hogg (Andy King, 58’), Juninho Bacuna, Emile Smith Rowe (Chris Willock, 75’), Elias Kachunga, Steve Mounié (Fraizer Campbell, 58’)

Unused subs
Joel Coleman, Trevoh Chalobah, Rekeil Pyke, Jon Gorenc Stanković

CARDIFF CITY (4-2-3-1)
Alex Smithies; Joe Bennett, Chris Nelson, Sean Morrison (c), Jazz Richards, Marlon Pack, Will Vaulks, Josh Murphy (Junior Hoilett, 67’), Lee Tomlin, Albert Adomah (Leandro Bacuna, 66’), Callum Paterson (Danny Ward, 86’)

Unused subs
Neil Etheridge, Aden Flint, Robert Glatzel, Gavin Whyte

REFEREE
Darren England

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Standings