PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (A)

13 July 2020

All you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s Sky Bet Championship game

- Sheffield Wednesday vs Town preview
- A look at the Owls’ key men
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town make the short trip to Hillsborough for a Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday 14 July 2020; 7.45pm kick-off.

Town will be looking to respond following a disappointing 2-0 loss to Luton Town on Friday evening.

The result, along with the weekend’s other results, means Town go into Tuesday’s game in S6 two points above the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.

The Yorkshire derby with the Owls is the first of the Terriers’ final three games of the 2019/20 campaign, with games at home to West Bromwich Albion and at Millwall to follow.

In the reverse fixture back in September, Town were beaten 2-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium in what was the Cowley’s first game in charge, as well as Garry Monk’s first game as Wednesday boss.

THE OPPOSITION

Since that meeting back in the Autumn, Monk’s side have overcome early-season struggles to consolidate their second-tier status in 2019/20.

The Owls currently occupy 14th position with three games left to play, just five points off a top half place, and looking comfortable with regards to what could happen below them.

Saturday’s 3-0 win at Queens Park Rangers will have been a welcome sight for Wednesday off the back of a three-game losing streak.

A draw with Nottingham Forest before victory at Bristol City had signalled a positive restart for Monk’s side until that three-game losing run with losses to West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City and Preston North End.

Despite getting back on track at the weekend, the Owls are yet to win on home turf in three attempts since the restart and are without a win at their Hillsborough home in the last four ahead of Town’s visit on Tuesday.

ONES TO WATCH

Tom Lees

The defender began his career across Yorkshire at Leeds United, spending 10 years in the Club’s youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2009. After gaining his first real experience of senior football with Accrington Stanley and Bury during loan spells with the respective clubs, Lees signed for the Owls in 2014. Known for a strong presence in the air amongst other defensive qualities, the 29-year-old has since made over 200 appearances for the Club, 24 of which have come across the 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship season.

SW Tom Lees.jpg

Barry Bannan

The Scotland international initially made his breakthrough into professional football in the Premier League with Aston Villa, before signing for Crystal Palace in 2013. After two years with the Eagles, the playmaking midfielder made the move up to South Yorkshire where he has become a creative focal point in the Owls’ midfield. This season, he has a team high eight assists in the Sky Bet Championship from his 41 appearances; also, a team high in league games played in 2019/20.

SW Barry Bannan.jpg

Jacob Murphy

Murphy has spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan from parent club Newcastle United – the eighth loan move of his professional career. The winger has been a regular part of Gary Monk’s side this season, racking up 36 league appearances in an Owls shirt, in which he has scored seven times and provided three assists. The 25-year-old, who is now the Club’s highest active goalscorer this season following the departure of Steven Fletcher last month, has also previously represented England at youth level.

SW Jacob Murphy.jpg

TEAM NEWS – TOWN

Manager Danny Cowley will provide an update on the fitness of his squad during his virtual press conference on Monday 13 July 2020.

Defender Tommy Elphick remains Town’s only long-term absentee (knee).

KIT

Town will be back in the fiery coral alternate kit for the midweek clash – CLICK HERE to get yours!

iFollow HTAFC

2019/20 Season Card holders who have not taken a refund or e-credit will again have free access to the game.

Supporters who are not Season Card holders can buy a match pass to watch the game for £10 - CLICK HERE for more info!

Town's match previews are sponsored by Stafflex!

Match Reports

REPORT: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0-0 TOWN

14 July 2020

Huddersfield Town picked up another point in the quest for Sky Bet Championship survival following a 0-0 draw in the Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Karlan Grant and Fraizer Campbell went closest for Town in the second half, but neither side could find a way through across a well-fought 90 minutes in South Yorkshire.

Looking to respond to Friday night’s defeat to Luton, Danny Cowley made three changes to his side for the midweek encounter, with Richard Stearman, Elias Kachunga and Steve Mounié all returning to the starting XI.

There was also a landmark appearance amongst the Town starters as Karlan Grant made his 50th start for the Club, at Hillsborough.

No extra motivation would be usually required for a Yorkshire derby with the Owls but the need for Sky Bet Championship points at the bottom end of the table provided an extra incentive on top of the local bragging right for the Terriers if it was at all needed.

Town looked to seize on those incentives early on, with returnees Stearman and Mounié linking up for the first chance of the match. The latter headed into the path of Town’s no.12 who nodded over from close range.

The Terriers were continuing to create openings from all over the pitch during a positive start in South Yorkshire.

Lewis O’Brien showcased some neat footwork on several occasions to cut into the Wednesday defensive setup from deep areas, whilst Harry Toffolo was again finding himself in attacking areas on the left.

The Town left-back cut the ball back for Emile Smith Rowe who curled a shot inches wide of the far post from just inside the penalty area, in what was the Terriers’ most threatening chance prior to the first drinks break.

There had been little action at the other end of the pitch until past the half-hour mark when Moses Odubajo drove forward from the right and unleashed a powerful effort that Jonas Lössl needed to parry away.

The break looked to have galvanised the home side and particularly Odubajo who was again causing problems down Town’s left.

After getting in behind the Terriers’ defence, he attempted to play the ball across the goal but Stearman was on hand to put in a vital interception and cut out the danger.

In the final seconds of the first 45, it was Lössl alert again to keep the hosts out. The Dane sprung to his left to superbly tip Kadeem Harris’ curling effort around the post, keeping the scores level going into the break.

After a first half of two halves in its opportunities, the two sides continued to battle after the interval with the game’s best chance so far falling to Karlan Grant on 53 minutes.

Town’s top scorer was found in a central area outside of the box by a lofted ball from Jonathan Hogg but after taking it in his stride, Grant’s effort just evaded the inside of the post.

Opportunities weren’t short at either end as the game approached the hour mark, with Lössl called into action once again to get to Massimo Luongo’s low drilled strike.

With time ticking away, the game continued to open up as both sides looked for the go-ahead goal. Substitute Fraizer Campbell went close with his first touch of the game after connecting with Toffolo’s whipped cross from the left, but the forward couldn’t keep his effort down on the stretch.

Hearts were then in Town mouths moments later. Lössl, who hadn’t put a foot out of line all evening, fumbled Adam Reach’s strike from range into the path of Alessio Da Cruz before pulling off a heroic double save, only for the flag to go up for offside on the forward anyway.

Despite pressure on both goals with a winning goal on the line in the four minutes of stoppage time, neither side could find the net as an action-packed encounter was brought to a close with the deadlock still intact and the points shared in S6.

Next up for Town is a return to the John Smith’s Stadium for the final time this season for the visit of West Bromwich Albion in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday 17 July 2020; 5.30pm kick-off.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (3-4-1-2)

Joe Wildsmith; Julian Börner, Tom Lees (c), Dominic Iorfa; Kadeem Harris, Massimo Luongo (Adam Reach, 70’), Barry Bannan, Moses Odubajo; Alex Hunt (Joey Pelupessy, 58’); Jacob Murphy (Alessio Da Cruz, 58’), Josh Windass (Atdhe Nuhiu, 70’)

Unused subs

Cameron Dawson; Jordan Rhodes, Ben Hughes, Ciaran Brennan, Liam Shaw

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)

Jonas Lössl; Harry Toffolo, Christopher Schindler (c), Richard Stearman, Trevoh Chalobah; Lewis O’Brien, Jonathan Hogg; Karlan Grant, Emile Smith Rowe, Elias Kachunga (Chris Willock, 70’); Steve Mounié (Fraizer Campbell, 78’)

Unused subs

Joel Coleman; Juninho Bacuna, Alex Pritchard, Collin Quaner, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Andy King, Demeaco Duhaney

REFEREE

Dean Whitestone

Standings