PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (A)

15 March 2021

A look at Town’s Sky Bet Championship opponents

- Preview to Town’s match against Sheffield Wednesday
- A look at Darren Moore’s key men
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town travel to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday looking to get back-to-back Sky Bet Championship wins!

The match will take place on Wednesday 17 March 2021 and will kick-off at 7.45pm.

The Terriers were victorious when the two sides met earlier this season, thanks to goals from Josh Koroma and Isaac Mbenza at the John Smith’s Stadium.

THE OPPOSITION

Sheffield Wednesday currently sit 23rd in the Sky Bet Championship and are seven points away from safety – although they do have a game in hand on 21st placed Birmingham City.

The Owls have taken 28 points from 35 games this season, which means they are 13 points behind the Terriers.

Wednesday started the season under the guidance of Garry Monk and were originally handed a 12-point deduction, but this was later reduced to 6-points.

They beat Cardiff away on the opening day, but an 11-game period that saw the Club only win three and draw three from, saw Chairman Dejphon Chansiri make a change.

The vastly experienced Tony Pulis was then appointed, but after just one win in his opening 10-games he was relieved of his duties.

On 1 March 2021, Darren Moore (above) was appointed as the Owls’ new Manager. He has, however, lost his first three games in charge.

His first game was at home to Rotherham United, but Wednesday were beaten 2-1. A 3-0 defeat followed against Reading, before a 2-1 defeat at home to league leaders Norwich City on Sunday.

Wednesday, however, have had their best fortunes at Hillsborough this season! They’ve won six of their 17 games, drawing five and losing six. Their last home win came on Tuesday 9 February 2021 against Wycombe Wanderers.

FORM GUIDE

Sheffield Wednesday are still looking for their first win under the guidance of Darren Moore.

They have lost seven successive games in the Sky Bet Championship, with their last win coming against Wycombe in early February. They were beaten by Norwich City in their last outing.

Town come into the game after getting their away form back on track! The Terriers beat QPR at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Carlos Corberán’s side are looking to win back-to-back Sky Bet Championship games since early December.

ONES TO WATCH

Tom Lees

Tom Lees joined the Owls in 2014 from Leeds United and has been a regular since that point. He’s made over 250 appearances for the Club.

The defender has scored one goal and has one assist so far this season from 29 games.

One of Lees’ strengths is his aerial ability and on average he makes 5.6 clearances per game. Not only this, he also makes 1.2 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game too.

Barry Bannan

The Scottish midfielder has been a key figure for Sheffield Wednesday over the last six seasons making over 200 appearances for the Club.

Bannan, who has experience playing in the Premier League and Europa League, joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2015 from Crystal Palace.

The 31-year-old has been ever-present this season and has scored two goals. He also has four assists to his name.

Josh Windass

Windass joined Sheffield Wednesday permanently in September 2020 after originally joining on loan from Wigan Athletic.

The attacking midfielder came through Town’s Academy before going on to make his professional debut for Accrington Stanley.

After a spell in Scotland with Rangers, Josh joined Wigan before signing for the Owls. On loan he scored three goals in nine games last year. So far this season, he’s scored five goal, and is second top scorer, and has one assist to his name.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Town edge the all-time record in the fixture, winning 26 of the 61 matchups between the sides, to Sheffield Wednesday’s 21, since the first competitive meeting back in September 1926.

In recent fortunes, Town now come out on top after a 2-0 win over the Owls back in December. Prior to that win, though, the Terriers hadn’t beat Wednesday in normal time since 2013! That day Martin Paterson and Adam Clayton were on the scoresheet before Conor Wickham scored a consolation goal.

You can watch the highlights from the Terriers’ win over Sheffield Wednesday below on #HTTV!

ACTION ELSEWHERE

Our match is one of six games on Wednesday. Here’s the full list of games:

Wednesday 17 March 2021

Nottingham Forest vs Norwich City – 7pm
Queens Park Rangers vs Millwall – 7pm
Wycombe Wanderers vs Barnsley – 7pm
Birmingham City vs Reading – 7.45pm
Blackburn Rovers vs Bristol City – 7.45pm
Sheffield Wednesday vs Huddersfield Town – 7.45pm

TEAM NEWS

Carlos Corberán will give an update on team news in his press conference on Tuesday 16 March 2021.

KIT

Town will be sporting the yellow and purple third kit against Sheffield Wednesday – CLICK HERE to get yours!

HOW TO WATCH

With the game being played behind-closed-doors, Town Season Card holders will be able to watch the match for FREE on iFollow HTAFC!

The match is also available on Sky Sports Football on the red button.

If you haven’t got Sky Sports and aren’t a Season Card Holder, then you can purchase a match pass for £10!

Match Reports

REPORT: SHEFF WED 1–1 TOWN

17 March 2021

Huddersfield Town took a point from Hillsborough following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship.

Josh Windass had opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half before Wednesday substitute Callum Paterson diverted into his own net to ensure that Town would take something on the short trip back to West Yorkshire.

Looking to put up a second away win in the space of four days, Head Coach Carlos Corberán made two changes to the side that started the victory at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Duane Holmes came into the XI for the 150th domestic start of his career alongside Demeaco Duhaney who lined-up at right-wing-back.

When the game got underway in South Yorkshire, it was Juninho Bacuna who had the game’s first attempt on goal in the early goings.

Fresh from his decisive effort in Saturday’s win in the capital, the midfielder took up a similar position on the edge of the penalty area, this time doing it all on his own to create the chance with some neat skill before firing over a curling effort.

Town’s front-foot start continued past the tenth minute mark after some determined work from Lewis O’Brien close to the corner flag on the left side.

O’Brien rode the challenge of a Wednesday defender before picking out Duane Holmes who faked out a defender with a teased strike before seeing his eventual effort blocked away from the goal.

For all of Town’s work inside the opening half-hour, it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play. Josh Windass raced onto a ball in behind and fired past Ryan Schofield to put Wednesday 1-0 up.

The hosts held that lead at the break with the Terriers’ first attempt on goal of the second half coming courtesy of Pipa.

Now playing as the left-back in a back four following half-time alterations from the Head Coach, the Spaniard cut inside and curled a shot towards the goal, but it was comfortably collected by Keiren Westwood between the sticks for Wednesday.

In what was becoming another closely contested half of football, chances were few and far between going into the final 15 minutes.

Town were continuing to fight their side of the battle in the middle of the park however, and got a slice of luck for their efforts, to get back on level terms with just over 15 minutes left to play.

Substitute Isaac Mbenza’s whipped free-kick from the left was met on the stretch by Naby Sarr who forced Westwood to tip it into the direction of Callum Paterson who couldn’t help but turn it into his own net from close range, levelling the scores.

At the other end, it took a big save in the minutes that followed from Schofield to stop Paterson from cancelling out his own error and putting the hosts back in front.

The ‘keeper spread himself well to keep out a low effort after the former had been slipped in one-on-one, inside the penalty area.

In the four minutes of stoppage time, Town came close to snatching all three points from South Yorkshire.

Having had a shot deflected behind, O’Brien caught the cleared corner sweetly on the volley but his well-struck effort was blocked away with referee Robert Jones blowing the final whistle soon after as the contest came to a level finish under the Hillsborough lights.

Next up for Town is the visit of Brentford to the John Smith’s Stadium after the international break for a Sky Bet Championship encounter on Saturday 3 April 2021; 12.30pm kick-off.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (3-4-3)

Keiren Westwood; Sam Hutchinson (Osaze Urhoghide, 60’), Julian Börner, Tom Lees; Adam Reach, Joel Pelupessy, Barry Bannan (c), Liam Palmer; Josh Windass (Elias Kachunga, 81'), Jordan Rhodes (Callum Paterson, 61’), Kadeem Harris (Liam Shaw, 61’)

Unused subs

Joe Wildsmith; Jack Marriott, Matt Penney, Andre Green, Alex Hunt

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-5-2)

Ryan Schofield; Naby Sarr, Richard Keogh, Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Isaac Mbenza, 46’); Pipa, Jonathan Hogg (c), Lewis O’Brien, Juninho Bacuna, Demeaco Duhaney; Duane Holmes (Yaya Sanogo, 60’), Fraizer Campbell (Aaron Rowe, 90+1’)

Unused subs

Joel Pereira; Álex Vallejo, Richard Stearman, Danny Ward, Jaden Brown, Scott High

REFEREE

Robert Jones