MATCH PREVIEW: MIDDLESBROUGH (H)

26 November 2020

Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship game

- Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough preview
- A look at Boro’s key men
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town are back in Sky Bet Championship action at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday 28 November 2020, hosting Middlesbrough in a 3pm kick-off.

Carlos Corberán’s side will be looking to secure three points from this weekend’s fixture after the midweek trip to Wycombe Wanderers ended in a draw but face a tough task against Neil Warnock’s high-flying Boro.

It is the first time Town return to home soil since the beginning of the month, prior to the international break.

THE OPPOSITION

Middlesbrough have had a good start to the 2020/21 campaign, currently sitting seventh in the league table, only two points adrift from the Play-Off places.

After finishing 17th in the table last season, the Teesside team have improved on their form and push once again for the Play-Offs.

Boro have a very robust record on the road so far this season having only been beaten once away from the Riverside on the opening day of the season against Watford, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat.

Former Town Manager Neil Warnock is only midway through his first full season in charge after being appointed in June 2020, but successfully steered the side away from the relegation zone and toward another season in the Championship.

FORM GUIDE

As mentioned earlier, the Terriers will be looking to get back to winning ways after the 0-0 draw against Wycombe in midweek.

Middlesbrough enter the game in great form, with only one defeat in the last 12 fixtures, which came at home to league leading Norwich City earlier this month.

Most notably, Boro boast the best defensive record in the Sky Bet Championship, having conceded just six goals from the opening 13 league games. They’ve scored 12 goals in that period, although three came in the last game; a comprehensive home win over Derby County.

ONES TO WATCH

Marcus Bettinelli

Summer recruit Marcus Bettinelli has made his mark on the first team having only signed for the club at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign, yet already starting in every starting XI of the season.

With an impressive six clean sheets out of 11 games so far this season the goalkeeper has the more sheets than any other Championship keeper.

On a season-long loan from his boy-hood club Fulham Bettinelli is now Boro’s no.1.

George Saville

Northern Ireland international Saville has been a virtual ever-present for Boro in central midfield so far this season.

George joined the Club after an initial loan spell from Millwall in 2018/19 and has established his spot under Neil Warnock. He is currently joint top scorer for Boro with two goals and leads the assist charts with three.

He’s also been praised by local media for his key role in Middlesbrough’s pressing game.

Jonny Howson

Howson has played every minute of Sky Bet Championship football for Boro ahead of Saturday’s game.

He signed a new contract at the Club this week, running until 2022, at which point Neil Warnock described him as ‘the best midfielder in the league at the moment’.

Now 32 years old, Howson actually played at centre back and right back last season – including against Town – but has now returned to the birth that saw him earn a move to the Premier League in the past.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

It’s the travelling side who go into the meeting with the better of the record in the fixture, winning 42 of the 94 competitive meetings to Town’s 32.

They’ve also had the edge in recent meetings too, losing just one of the last 16 games between the side dating back to March 1986.

This includes the last time the two sides met last Boxing Day when a travelling Town were beaten 1-0 at the Riverside.

ACTION ELSEWHERE

Saturday’s meeting with the Boro is one of 10 games this Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship.

Here’s the full list of fixtures to be played this weekend (all kick-offs 3pm unless stated) …

Friday 27 November
Brentford vs Queens Park Rangers (7.45pm)

Saturday 28 November
Reading vs Bristol City (12.30pm)
Birmingham City vs Millwall
Blackburn Rovers vs Barnsley
Cardiff City vs Luton Town
Derby County vs Wycombe Wanderers
Norwich City vs Coventry City
Rotherham United vs AFC Bournemouth
Sheffield Wednesday vs Stoke City
Watford vs Preston North End

Sunday 29 November
Nottingham Forest vs Swansea City (noon)

TEAM NEWS

Carlos Corberán will provide an update on his side ahead of Saturday’s game during his virtual press conference on Friday 27 November 2020.

KIT

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

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: TOWN 3-2 BORO

28 November 2020

A late Josh Koroma strike secured all three points for Huddersfield Town following a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Terriers went in at half-time ahead having come from behind, after Carel Eiting and Fraizer Campbell were on target following Marvin Johnson’s opener for the visitors.

Britt Assombalonga equalised late on from the spot before Koroma’s late effort secured all three points for the Terriers at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Carlos Corberán made two changes from the side that picked up a point at Wycombe in midweek, with Richard Stearman and Josh Koroma returning to the side.

Jonathan Hogg captained the Terriers in Christopher Schindler’s absence, with the skipper out of action following a concussion suffered during that game on Tuesday night.

The game, which got underway amidst continued drizzle at the John Smith’s Stadium, was well-balanced in the early goings with both sides having opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.

Back in the side, Josh Koroma set his sights in early with a left-footed strike tipped around the post by Boro ‘keeper Marcus Bettinelli before Britt Assombalonga somehow steered Marvin Johnson’s low ball across the box over the bar on the stretch from close range.

Having provided the key ball there, Johnson got inside the box himself to score the game’s opening goal. Having been found in space on the left side of the penalty area, the Boro defender found the net with a powered strike to give the visitors the lead on 13 minutes.

The Terriers responded well to going behind and enjoyed a good spell of possession in positive areas.

That possession produced a free-kick which Isaac Mbenza dangerously whipped in from the right, just over the head of Fraizer Campbell.

Moments later, Town did find the target through Carel Eiting to draw level.

The on-loan Ajax midfielder received the ball from Josh Koroma and beat Bettinelli with a left-footed strike, finding the bottom corner for his third goal in the last four games.

Just before half-time, Town then completed the turnaround. Lewis O’Brien did brilliantly to intercept the ball, before playing in Fraizer Campbell who kept his composure to get past the last man and find the net whilst off balance.

Town carried the momentum into the second half and started the livelier of the two sides, as Campbell played in Koroma, who drove down the left side of the box before seeing his effort deflected into the side netting.

A few minutes later it was Harry Toffolo who went close for the Terriers. Town’s no.3 met a smart corner from the left that was played along the ground by Mbenza, but his effort was deflected into the path of the Boro ‘keeper.

At the other end, the visitors continued their search for an equaliser through Paddy McNair, who curled a free-kick just over the Town bar from about 25-yards-out.

With their next attack, Boro got the leveller they were looking for. Naby Sarr brought down Assombalonga in the box with the latter getting up to slot the penalty home with less than 10 minutes left to play.

But like earlier in the encounter, the Terriers responded well and went back ahead less than three minutes later.

Koroma worked some space inside the box with some good footwork before superbly finding the bottom corner with a curled effort in the 85th minute.

The visitors attempted to hit back in the minutes that remained, but despite the constant barrage of pressure, Town held out to secure a big three points in the Sky Bet Championship.

Next up for Town is a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium to face Cardiff City on Tuesday 1 December 2020; 7pm kick-off.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-3-3)

Ryan Schofield; Harry Toffolo, Naby Sarr, Richard Stearman (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 29’), Juninho Bacuna (Demeaco Duhaney, 78’); Jonathan Hogg, Lewis O’Brien, Carel Eiting; Josh Koroma (Jaden Brown, 89’), Fraizer Campbell (Danny Ward, 78’), Isaac Mbenza (Aaron Rowe, 89’)

Unused subs

Joel Pereira; Adama Diakhaby, Matty Daly, Kieran Phillips

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1)

Marcus Bettinelli; Marc Bola, Paddy McNair, Dael Fry, Anfernee Dijksteel (Duncan Watmore, 88’); George Saville (Lewis Wing, 89’), Jonny Howson; Marvin Johnson, Marcus Tavernier (Chuba Akpom, 66’), Djed Spence; Britt Assombalonga

Unused subs

Dejan Stojanović; Sam Morsy, Nathan Wood, Patrick Roberts, Sam Folarin, Dejan Stojanović, Hayden Coulson

REFEREE

John Brooks