PREVIEW: BIRMINGHAM CITY (A)

26 October 2020

Everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday’s game

- Birmingham City vs Huddersfield Town preview
- A look at the Blues’ key men
- Watch the game on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town are back in Sky Bet Championship action with a trip to the St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium to face Birmingham City on Wednesday 28 October 2020; 7.45pm kick-off.

The Terriers will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Preston North End that called a halt to a four-game unbeaten run in the league.

Carlos Corberán’s side go into the clash in the Midlands having taken four points from a possible six in the last two outings away from the John Smith’s Stadium, following a win over Swansea and a draw with Rotherham United either side of the October international break.

Wednesday night’s match is the first of two games on the road for the Terriers this week, with a trip to Millwall to follow at the weekend.

THE OPPOSITION

Like Town, Birmingham are also in their first season with a new Spanish Head Coach, having appointed Aitor Karanka to the post in the summer.

Birmingham Karanka.jpg

The Spaniard has overseen a robust start to the campaign from his Blues side, who have taken seven points from the opening seven games.

Despite an opening day victory over Brentford their only win of the campaign so far, the Blues have been a difficult team to beat in the opening weeks of the campaign, losing just two of their opening seven games, whilst keeping three clean sheets.

They are also yet to concede more than once in a game so far this season, which has been a major improvement on their form at the back last term that saw them ship the fourth highest amount of goals in the Sky Bet Championship in 2019/20 (75).

FORM GUIDE

The Blues go into Wednesday’s encounter having picked up their first point since the international break with a goalless draw at QPR on Saturday.

Back-to-back losses against Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday had come since the return to the Club action, after the Blues had gone into the break unbeaten in their first four matches of the campaign.

As for Town, the Terriers will be looking to get back to winning ways during the midweek trip to the Midlands after Saturday’s defeat to Preston North End snapped a four-game unbeaten streak in the Sky Bet Championship.

Carlos Corberán’s side will arrive at St. Andrew’s off the back of a week that saw them pick up six points from a possible nine, with wins over Swansea City and Derby County in the days after the international break, prior to that loss to the Lilywhites at the weekend.

ONES TO WATCH

Harlee Dean

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a solid start to the campaign at the back for the Blues, playing every minute in the league so far this season. Playing in the central ‘sweeper’ role in a back three, Birmingham’s no.12 has continued to assert his presence in his own box, winning an average of 5.4 aerial duels per game, and thus has made a key contribution to the Blues’ league-high 60.9% aerial success so far this season. Dean has been integral to his team’s three league clean sheets in the opening weeks of the campaign as well as being an asset at the other end, getting on target in the recent draw at Stoke City.

Birmingham Dean.jpg

Iván Sánchez

The Spaniard has enjoyed a successful start to life in England having been one of Aitor Karanka’s 12 summer recruits, making the move to St. Andrew’s after his contract at Spanish side Elche had expired. Featuring primarily as a right-winger, Sánchez is also a set piece threat with both of his Sky Bet Championship assists this season coming from corners. The 28-year-old’s impressive beginning to his career in English football was rewarded with a place in the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Month for September.

Birmingham Sanchez.jpg

Jérémie Bela

Off the back of a promising first season in the blue shirt, the winger has made a good start to his second campaign at St Andrew’s. Having scored the winner in the team’s only victory of the campaign so far against Brentford, Bela was on target again against Rotherham United, earning the Blues a point against the Millers with a stoppage time penalty. The Angolan is Birmingham’s top scorer so far this season with his two goals, both coming on home soil at St. Andrew’s.

Birmingham Bele.jpg

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

It’s the Terriers who have edged the record against the Blues over the years, winning 42 of the 113 encounters to Birmingham’s 38, with the other 33 being drawn.

Recent history in the fixture has gone in Town’s favour, with only one defeat for the Terriers in the last nine meetings dating back to March 2015.

That features gaining four points from a possible six in the two meetings last season, including a 3-0 win at St Andrew’s in our last meeting with the Blues, back in July.

ACTION ELSEWHERE

Our trip to the Midlands is one of 12 games across the Sky Bet Championship to be played in midweek. Here’s the full list of fixtures (all kick-offs are 7.45pm BST unless stated)…

Tuesday 27 October 2020

Barnsley vs Queens Park Rangers (7pm BST)
Blackburn Rovers vs Reading
Brentford vs Norwich City
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City
Swansea City vs Stoke City
Wycombe Wanderers vs Watford

Wednesday 28 October 2020

Preston North End vs Millwall (7pm BST)
Birmingham City vs Huddersfield Town
AFC Bournemouth vs Bristol City
Derby County vs Cardiff City
Luton Town vs Nottingham Forest
Rotherham United vs Sheffield Wednesday

TEAM NEWS

Carlos Corberán will provide an update on his side ahead of Wednesday’s game during his virtual press conference on Tuesday 27 October 2020.

The Terriers will definitely be without Naby Sarr (suspended) and Álex Vallejo (quarantine) for the trip to St. Andrew’s.

KIT

Town will be back in the red away kit for the midweek trip to the Midlands – 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: BIRMINGHAM 2–1 TOWN

28 October 2020

A 90th minute goal from Lukas Jutkiewicz condemned Huddersfield Town to a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City at the St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium.

The Terriers had looked to have rescued a point late on after Isaac Mbenza’s free-kick had cancelled out Gary Gardner’s opener late on, but the Blues restored their lead in the final minutes to ensure that Town would leave the Midlands empty-handed.

Head Coach Carlos Corberán made three changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s defeat to Preston North End.

Carel Eiting, Adama Diakhaby and Josh Koroma all returned at St Andrew’s as the Terriers looked to get back to winning ways on a chilly mid-Autumn evening in the Midlands.

Donning the red away kit for the midweek encounter, Town had the majority of the ball in the early goings but were made to work hard for any sightings at an opening as the hosts showed their solidity in the defensive phase from the off.

That platform sprung the game’s first barrage of opportunities in the Blues’ favour, with Scott Hogan twice trying his luck to no avail before Ben Hamer was well positioned to stop George Friend’s firm attempt on goal.

Those attacks appeared to open the game up after a hard-fought start, with Town soon going close at the other end through Fraizer Campbell who saw what would have been a spectacular opener drift inches over the bar.

After a good spell for Town attacking the Tilton Road End of the ground, it was the visitors who found the way through at the opposite end.

Gary Gardner connected with a free-kick whipped in from a deep position on the right to give the Blues a 27th minute lead.

Another hosts’ set piece caused further danger moments later Jérémie Bela latched on to a ball in from the left, hitting the post with his effort before Richard Stearman cleared the rebound off the line.

Attempting to unlock the Blues’ robust defensive shape, Town had their best opportunity of the game so far in the closing moments of the half.

Josh Koroma connected with Juninho Bacuna’s lofted delivery into the penalty area after it had beat ‘keeper Neil Etheridge but headed wide from a tight angle.

After the break, it was Koroma at the forefront of Town’s drive for an equaliser once more. The forward cut in from the left side and unleashed a powerful effort that cannoned back off the crossbar.

As was the same in the first half, the Terriers continued to see plenty of the ball but were being frustrated by an organised Birmingham side.

Campbell, who found the net in both fixtures against the Blues last term, was looking to add to his record against the same opposition, but miscued a strike from the edge of the penalty area after the ball had been worked in his direction.

With just five minutes left on the clock, Town got their reward for continued perseverance in the hosts’ half.

After some tricky feet from Pipa on the edge of the box, substitute Isaac Mbenza stepped up to plant the free-kick past Etheridge and into the net to draw the Terriers level.

The forward’s late heroics were in vain however, as Lukas Jutkiewicz’s effort shortly before nine minutes of stoppage time but the hosts back in-front against the run of play.

The Birmingham forward was in the right place at the right time to place the rebound into an empty net after Jonathan Leko’s original effort had come back off the bar.

The Terriers attempted to rally in the added on time and went closest through Christopher Schindler but the hosts held on to claim all three points from the midweek encounter.

Next up for Town is a trip to The Den to face Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 31 October 2020; 3pm kick-off.

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-5-1)

Neil Etheridge; George Friend, Harlee Dean, Marc Roberts, Maxime Colin; Jérémie Bela, Ivan Šunjić (Adam Clayton, 66’), Mikel San José, Gary Gardner (Jonathan Leko, 79’), Iván Sánchez; Scott Hogan (Lukas Jutkiewicz, 60’)

Unused subs

Andrés Prieto; Kristian Pedersen, Riley McGree, Josh Dacres-Cogley

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-3-3)

Ben Hamer; Harry Toffolo, Christopher Schindler (c), Richard Stearman, Pipa; Jonathan Hogg (Lewis O’Brien, 57’), Carel Eiting, Juninho Bacuna (Alex Pritchard, 46’); Josh Koroma, Fraizer Campbell, Adama Diakhaby (Isaac Mbenza, 81’)

Unused subs

Joel Pereira; Demeaco Duhaney, Romoney Crichlow, Jaden Brown

REFEREE

Leigh Doughty