PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY (H)

3 March 2021

Everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s game

- Preview to Town’s match against Cardiff City
- A look at Mick McCarthy’s key players
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC and Sky Sports

Huddersfield Town are set to play a second game this week in the Sky Bet Championship at the John Smith’s Stadium as they host Cardiff City.

The game will take place on Friday 5 March 2021 and will kick-off at 7.45pm.

The Terriers go into the Friday night clash off the back of a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City.

This means that Town have only taken four points from their last four games and they are still looking to win their second game of 2021.

THE OPPOSITON

The Bluebirds currently sit 6th in the Sky Bet Championship table as they battle for promotion to the Premier League.

Since the appointment of Mick McCarthy on 22 January 2021, Cardiff City have been in sensational form – winning seven of the 10 games. They’re yet to lose under the guidance of the 62-year-old.

They have also kept four clean sheets over that period.

Away from home this season, Cardiff have won eight out of their 17 games while drawing a further five games; that means they have only lost four away games this season!

FORM GUIDE

The Bluebirds go into Friday night’s encounter off the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Derby County.

This result has fired Cardiff City into Play-Off and promotion contention. In their last away outing, they drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough.

As mentioned above, Town come into the game after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City. The Terriers have only lost one of their last four home games.

ONES TO WATCH

Sean Morrison

Former Town player and Club Captain for the Bluebirds, Sean Morrison, joined Cardiff City in 2014 from Reading shortly after a loan spell with Town.

The centre-back has made over 250 appearances for Cardiff and played a key role when the Bluebirds were promoted to the Premier League in the 2017/18 season.

This season has seen the skipper make 33 appearances and score five goals with a further two assists.

Cardiff Sean Morrison.jpg

Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson joined the Bluebirds on loan in October 2020 from Liverpool FC.

The winger has had successful loan spells with teams such as Hull City, Derby County and AFC Bournemouth before Cardiff City.

Since joining the Bluebirds, the 23-year-old has so far played in 26 Sky Bet Championship fixtures and has scored four goals while assisting a further nine goals.

Kieffer Moore

The top goal scorer for Cardiff City was the first signing for the Bluebirds in August 2020 from Wigan Athletic.

The 28-year-old has made 30 appearances for Cardiff City so far this season and has scored 16 goals! He also has one assist to his name.

Moore is in red hot form scoring eight goals in 10 games under Mick McCarthy.

Cardiff Kieffer Moore.jpg

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

It’s the Terriers that edge the record in this fixture, winning 29 of the 77 matches between the sides to Cardiff’s 27 wins. The remaining 21 fixtures have been played out as draws since the first competitive meeting back in December 1921.

Despite these figures, results haven’t gone Town’s way in recent times as Friday night’s game will see us go looking for a first win in this fixture in 15 meetings.

That last win against Cardiff took place in a Division Two fixture in the 2002/03 campaign at the John Smith’s Stadium.

ACTION ELSEHWHERE

Friday’s meeting with the Bluebirds is one of 12 fixtures across the Sky Bet Championship this weekend.

Here is a look at the full list of games in the division in this round of matches (all kick-offs are at 3pm unless stated otherwise):

Friday 5 March 2021

Huddersfield Town vs Cardiff City (7.45pm KO)

Saturday 6 March 2021

Watford vs Nottingham Forest (12.30pm KO)
Barnsley vs Birmingham City
Brentford vs Rotherham United
Bristol City vs Queens Park Rangers
Coventry City vs Derby County
Millwall vs Blackburn Rovers
Norwich City vs Luton Town
Preston North End vs AFC Bournemouth
Reading vs Sheffield Wednesday
Stoke City vs Wycombe Wanderers
Swansea City vs Middlesbrough

TEAM NEWS

Carlos Corberán will provide the Terriers’ latest team news ahead of Friday’s game during his virtual press conference on Thursday 4 January 2021.

KIT

Town will be in the blue-and-white striped home kit for the visit of the Bluebirds – CLICK HERE to get your home shirt!

HOW TO WATCH

Huddersfield Town supporters can watch Friday night’s game against Cardiff City LIVE on Sky Sports and iFollow HTAFC.

Season Card holders will be able to watch the Terriers on iFollow HTAFC.

Due to the game’s selection for live coverage by Sky Sports, match passes are not available to non-Season Card holders in the UK.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 0–0 CARDIFF

5 March 2021

Huddersfield Town played out a 0-0 draw with Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship.

Yaya Sanogo’s missed penalty was the nearest the Terriers came to an all-important goal, with Fraizer Campbell also going close late on but the points were shared in the Friday night encounter at the John Smith’s Stadium

Carlos Corberán made three changes from the draw with Birmingham on the same ground three days earlier.

Richard Keogh and Aaron Rowe returned to the XI while Yaya Sanogo made his first start for the Terriers since joining the Club last month.

Under the Friday night lights it was the visitors who had the game’s first opportunity. Joe Ralls drove into space from midfield before unleashing a low strike that was charged down by a Town defender.

Up the other end, there were similar fortunes for Lewis O’Brien who produced almost a carbon copy of his fellow no.8’s strike, with his driven effort deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands.

With both sides attempting to assert themselves on the contest chances were hard to come by, but Ryan Schofield had to be on his toes to keep out Will Vaulks in the closing stages of the half.

The Cardiff midfielder caught a cleared corner sweetly on the volley with Town’s ‘keeper springing across to his right to parry it away.

After the break, it was Richard Keogh who went close for Town shortly after the hour mark. Town’s no.15 connected with Juninho Bacuna’s free-kick from a deep area, glancing just wide of the goal.

With just under 20 minutes to play, Town were presented with an opportunity to go ahead. After a neat combination from Yaya Sanogo and Lewis O’Brien, the ball fell to Aaron Rowe who was brought down inside the area, with referee Tim Robinson pointing to the penalty spot.

Sanogo, on his first Town start, stepped up to take it but placed it wide to the left of the target with the deadlock staying intact.

The Terriers had battled well throughout the evening to limit potential openings for the Bluebirds at the other end, but the visitors did get a sight on goal after 79 minutes.

Harry Wilson found Thomas Sang just inside the right side of the penalty area with the wing-back’s strike deflecting off a Town defender and into the side-netting.

From one end to another, it was Pipa’s opportunity at the other end moments later. The Spaniard, who was playing from the left, was slipped in by O’Brien and after bursting onto the through-ball his effort was charged down on the rush by Cardiff ‘keeper Dillon Phillips.

The chances continued to come for Town with the next one arriving from a corner from the left. Naby Sarr knocked down a recycled ball into the path of Fraizer Campbell but the forward couldn’t keep his acrobatic effort down.

Campbell's effort turned out to be Town's final look in at a winner as the points were shared soon after in West Yorkshire.

Next up for Town is a visit to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 13 March 2021; 3pm kick-off.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-5-2)

Ryan Schofield; Naby Sarr, Richard Keogh, Rarmani Edmonds-Green; Aaron Rowe (Richard Stearman, 90'), Álex Vallejo, Lewis O’Brien, Juninho Bacuna, Pipa; Yaya Sanogo (Kieran Phillips, 77’), Fraizer Campbell

Unused subs

Joel Pereira; Duane Holmes, Demeaco Duhaney, Isaac Mbenza, Romoney Crichlow, Jaden Brown, Scott High

CARDIFF CITY (3-4-1-2)

Dillon Phillips; Curtis Nelson, Aden Flint, Sean Morrison (c); Joel Bagan (Ciaron Brown, 38’), Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks, Thomas Sang; Harry Wilson (Marlon Pack, 86’); Kieffer Moore, Josh Murphy (Sheyi Ojo, 58’)

Unused subs

Alex Smithies; Leandro Bacuna, Jonny Williams, Mark Harris, Junior Hoilett, Rubin Colwill

REFEREE

Tim Robinson