PREVIEW: LUTON TOWN (H)

5 November 2020

Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game

- Huddersfield Town vs Luton Town preview
- A look at the Hatters’ key men
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town are back in Sky Bet Championship action at the John Smith Stadium as they play Luton Town on Saturday 7 November 2020; 3pm kick-off.

The Terriers will be looking to improve upon their performance and clench three points from this week’s game after suffering a 2-1 loss to Bristol City at home on Tuesday night.

Town return to action on home soil for the second time this week in the last game before the international break.

THE OPPOSITION

Nathan Jones’ side will be looking to kick on from their solid start to the season when they face the Terriers this weekend.

The Hatters currently sit 9th in the Sky Bet Championship table and have won their last two away games beating Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday.

FORM GUIDE

The Terriers will be looking to bounce back from a midweek defeat to Bristol City and go into the international break off the back of a win.

Whilst, Luton will be looking to continue their impressive run of form! They beat Rotherham United on Wednesday night and have won five out of their opening 10 fixtures.

ONES TO WATCH

James Collins

The Hatters’ frontman is clinical when given a chance in front of goal bagging himself 14 in Luton’s first season back in the Sky Bet Championship. The target man who possesses a real threat in and around the six-yard box showed glimpses of last season with a hat-trick against Norwich in the Carabao Cup. He has one goal in the league this campaign but leaving him unmarked could prove fatal for oppositions defence.

Luton James Collins.jpg

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

The Leicester City loanee found himself placed into the centre of Luton Town’s midfield over the past few games. He endured a brilliant first season in professional football with a short loan at Blackpool last season, netting an impressive four goals and one assist in just 10 games for the Seasiders.

Luton Dewsbury-Hall.jpg

Rhys Norrington-Davies

Another new signing this season, young full-back Rhys Norrington-Davies arrived on loan from Premier League side Sheffield United. The young blade on loan at Luton caught the eye of Wales manager Ryan Giggs, earning his first call up for his impressive displays since joining Luton on loan. The versatile full-back can also play as a centre-midfielder showing his adaptability at such a young age.

Luton Rhys Norrington-Davies.jpg

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

The Hatters have the better record in the history of this tie with the teams only meeting 24 times. Luton have won 12 of those to Huddersfield Town’s nine, with the teams hitting a stalemate on three occasions.

Last season was the first meeting between the two sides since 2007/08 in which Town did the double over Luton, winning both home and away fixtures.

However, fortune wasn’t on the Terriers side in the last meeting, as the Hatters ran out 2-0 winners at the John Smith Stadium.

ACTION ELSEWHERE

Saturday’s meeting with the Hatters’s is one of 11 games this Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship.

Here’s the full list of fixtures to be played this weekend:

Friday 6 November 2020

Cardiff City vs Bristol City (6pm KO)

Saturday 7 November 2020

Reading vs Stoke City (12.30pm KO)

Birmingham City vs AFC Bournemouth (3pm KO)

Blackburn Rovers vs Queens Park Rangers (3pm KO)

Brentford vs Middlesbrough (3pm KO)

Derby County vs Barnsley (3pm KO)

Norwich City vs Swansea City (3pm KO)

Nottingham Forest vs Wycombe Wanderers (3pm KO)

Rotherham United vs Preston North End (3pm KO)

Sheffield Wednesday vs Millwall (3pm KO)

Watford vs Coventry City (3pm KO)

TEAM NEWS

Carlos Corberan will provide an update on his side ahead of Saturday’s game during his virtual press conference on Friday 6 November 2020.

KIT

Town will be back in the blue-and-white striped home kit – 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!

To do this, you need to make sure your email addresses with the Club match-up, CLICK HERE for more information!

If you aren’t a Season Card Holder, then you can purchase a match pass for £10!

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 1-1 LUTON

7 November 2020

Carel Eiting’s second half equaliser saw Huddersfield Town draw 1-1 with Luton Town in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Dutchman’s first goal for the Terriers cancelled out George Moncur’s 21st minute strike with neither side able to find the game's third goal, meaning the points were shared at the John Smith's Stadium.

Carlos Corberán made two changes to the side that started in midweek, with Carel Eiting and Adama Diakhaby returning to the starting XI.

There was also a welcome return to the squad for Danny Ward who had yet to make a Sky Bet Championship appearance for Town since re-joining the Club in the summer, having been sidelined with a hamstring issue over the last two months.

After both sides observed a minute’s silence to pay their respects on remembrance weekend, the encounter got underway at a foggy John Smith’s Stadium.

Despite the conditions, Ben Hamer had no problem seeing Harry Cornick’s early effort, collecting the Hatters’ first attempt of the game without any issue.

Having edged the better of the starts, the visitors got the game’s opener on 21 minutes. George Moncur volleyed in Sonny Bradley’s header to the back post to give Luton the lead.

The Terriers responded well to going behind and had several chances to get back on level terms. First, Lewis O’Brien drove over the bar having found some space on the edge of the box before Josh Koroma hit ‘keeper Simon Sluga with his low effort.

Just before the interval, Adama Diakhaby also got his sights in. The forward tricked his way into the penalty area before his deflected strike took a diving hand from Sluga to prevent it creeping into the near corner.

After going into the break behind, Town again came out fighting and nearly had an equaliser in the opening minutes of the half.

Having caused the Hatters defence problems in the first 45, Koroma was again getting into dangerous areas after the break, attempting to squeeze a low strike through the defender’s legs that was diverted behind for a corner.

That attack from the left may have been cut out, but the next one saw Town successfully draw level.

Harry Toffolo’s flighted ball in from the left found the head of Carel Eiting who superbly directed the ball past the ‘keeper to get the Terriers level with his first goal for the Club.

Having found the equaliser on the hour mark, Town matched up Luton’s change to five at the back with both sides battling towards a late winner.

With 82 minutes on the clock, Danny Ward made his league return for Town having been sidelined since the start of the Sky Bet Championship campaign, replacing Josh Koroma as Town continued to look for a winner.

The best, and only real clear cut, chance in the game’s closing stages for either side fell to Fraizer Campbell in the opening seconds of the six added on minutes.

The forward’s effort from just inside the penalty area was charged down with the final whistle going shortly after to confirm Town would take a point from the final game before the international break.

Next up for Town is a visit to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 21 November 2020; 3pm kick-off.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-3-3)

Ben Hamer; Harry Toffolo, Naby Sarr, Richard Stearman, Pipa (Demeaco Duhaney, 89’); Jonathan Hogg, Lewis O’Brien, Carel Eiting; Josh Koroma (Danny Ward, 82’), Fraizer Campbell, Adama Diakhaby (Christopher Schindler, 66’)

Unused subs

Joel Pereira; Isaac Mbenza, Jaden Brown, Matty Daly

LUTON TOWN (4-2-3-1)

Simon Sluga; Martin Cranie, Sonny Bradley (c), Glen Rea, Matty Pearson; Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kiernan Dwesbury-Hall; George Moncur (James Bree, 60’), Luke Berry (Ryan Tunnicliffe, 77’), Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua, 73’); James Collins

Unused subs

James Shea; Danny Hylton, Elliot Lee, Rhys Norrington-Davies

REFEREE

Oliver Langford