PREVIEW: MIDDLESBROUGH (H)

27 March 2023

All you need to know ahead of our next Sky Bet Championship fixture

- Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough
- Saturday 1 April 2023; 3pm kick-off
- Available to listen to on iFollow HTAFC

The Terriers return from international duty to continue their Sky Bet Championship campaign on Saturday 1 April, back at the John Smith’s Stadium against Middlesbrough.

Our reverse fixture with Middlesbrough took place back in October, which saw Town leave the Riverside Stadium with a point after a 0-0 draw.

THE OPPOSITION

Middlesbrough currently sit third, at the top of the Play-Off places, in the Sky Bet Championship and are just three points behind Sheffield United in the automatic promotion places.

The Boro come into this came on the back of a 4-0 at home against Preston North End before the international break on Saturday 18 March. Middlesbrough have won three, drown one and lost one of their last five games.

Michael Carrick was appointed Head Coach of Middlesbrough in October 2023, just two days after Town’s trip to the Riverside Stadium.

ONES TO WATCH

Zack Steffen

The ‘keeper joined Middlesbrough on loan from Manchester City at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and has appeared between the sticks 35 times so far. Steffen, who has played for the United States national side 29 times, was also sent on loan from Manchester City to German side Fortuna Düsseldorf during the 2019/20 season. The 27-year-old has made 97 saves and kept nine clean sheets so far during his 35 appearances this season.

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Cameron Archer

The 21-year-old forward joined Middlesbrough on loan in January from Aston Villa, where he spent his youth career. From Villa, Archer has gone on loan to Solihull Moors, Preston North End and is currently with the Boro. Since arriving in January, the England U21 international has scored six goals and made three assists within 13 appearances – two of these goals came in the 4-0 victory over Preston North End in the last game.

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Chuba Akpom

The current top goal scorer in the Sky Bet Championship with 25 goals in 33 appearances, alongside two assists, Akpom went through the academy with Arsenal and this saw him go on multiple loans to clubs such as Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion. Since arriving at Middlesbrough in 2020 from Greek side PAOK, the 27-year-old forward has made 70 appearances.

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TEAM NEWS

Manager Neil Warnock will provide the latest update on team news in his upcoming press conference later this week.

KIT

The Terriers will be in their famous blue and white stripes for this home fixture against Middlesbrough.

CLICK HERE to get your 2022/23 home kit!

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now – CLICK HERE - priced as follows in all areas (except hospitality):

Adults - £25
65s and over - £20
18s and under - £15
Under 11s - £10

DISABLED SUPPORTERS

Disabled supporters should pay their relevant price class, with a companion ticket free of charge.

Tickets for wheelchair users are priced at £20, with a companion ticket free of charge.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend the game on Saturday afternoon, you can listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

Live audio commentary will be available for the game when you purchase either a Monthly Pass or Audio Match Pass. You can purchase a Monthly Pass for £4.49 or an Audio Match Pass for £2.50.

CLICK HERE to sign up to iFollow HTAFC!

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 4-2 MIDDLESBROUGH

1 April 2023

Four big goals secure important home win for the Terriers!

- Huddersfield Town 4-2 Middlesbrough
- Back-to-back wins for the Terriers
- Goals from Ruffels, Koroma and a Pearson brace

Town secured back-to-back wins this afternoon with an inspired 4-2 home victory against Middlesbrough at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Despite going into the second half a goal down, four second half goals secured this important Sky Bet Championship win for Town, with goals from Josh Ruffels, Josh Koroma and a brace from Matty Pearson.

Town started the game strong with skipper Jonathan Hogg having a shot from outside the box, but this went well wide of the Middlesbrough goal.

Following on from this, within five minutes of kick-off, the Terriers had a great chance to take the lead – Duane Holmes sent a lovely cross into the ball, which was kept in by a nice touch from Michał Helik and then sent to Josh Koroma, his shot from the edge of the box was cleared and hooked off the line by Darragh Lenihan.

Middlesbrough had their first chance of the game in the 13th minute as Chuba Akpom headed the ball wide of Tomáš Vaclík’s goal.

Town were forced to make a first half change due to an injury with Holmes, which sae Ben Jackson come on in the 25th minute.

Aaron Ramsey fancied his chances and shot from outside the box, but this was anticipated and scooped up by Vaclík.

Helik produced a great block just before the half hour mark as he denied a close range cross and sent the ball out for a corner.

The Boro created nice play between Cameron Archer and Ramsey for their next chance, Ramsey’s shot went high and was chipped over the goal.

The Terriers had a chance in the 38th minute through a low shot from first half substitute Jackson after he was headed the ball from Jack Rudoni, but this shot went wide of the Middlesbrough goal.

This afternoon’s first goal came for Middlesbrough in the 43rd minute from Marcus Forss after he was squared the ball from a stuck Archer who couldn’t shoot due to being stifled by Town’s defence by the near post.

Due to this late first half goal, Town went into the break a goal behind.

Just 22 seconds into the first half, Ruffels scored Town’s equaliser and sent the John Smith’s Stadium into uproar. The full back carried the ball towards the box and beat several Middlesbrough players to make it one-on-one with Zack Steffen, it was a great finish into the side of the goal.

Koroma scored our second goal of the afternoon after Danny Ward sent a lovely through ball into the final third for our number 10 to run onto, he carried it to the edge of the box and curled it beautifully into the bottom far corner.

Our third goal in 12 minutes was scored by Matty Pearson, but this was created by Koroma who had skipped past his man and carried the ball into the box. He squared the ball to find Ward, but this was deflected out for a corner. The corner was played into the box and headed back towards the centre of the box by Helik, then volleyed into the back of the net by Pearson.

Pearson scored his brace in the 67th minute as he ran onto Ward’s cross, which had drifted wide, and tucked the ball into the back of the net.

Middlesbrough found the back of the net and thought they had scored a second, but the referee gave a free-kick to Town instead.

Akpom eventually scored the second goal for the Boro in 74th minute as he headed the ball into the back of the net after Riley McGree’s cross to the far corner,

Rudoni’s shot went just wide in the 84th minute after an excellent break from Town, which was led by Ward – his cross found Rudoni who took a touch, but his left-footed shot went just wide. This was the last chance and the Terriers finish with a 4-2 victory in the Sky Bet Championship.

Town’s Team (4-3-3)
Tomáš Vaclík; Matty Pearson, Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Josh Ruffels; Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Matt Lowton, 77’), Jonathan Hogg (c), Jack Rudoni; Duane Holmes (Ben Jackson, 25’), Danny Ward (Tyreece Simpson, 89’), Josh Koroma (David Kasumu, 89’)

Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Joe Hungbo

Goal Scorers
Josh Ruffels (46’), Josh Koroma (54’), Matty Pearson (57’, 66’)

Tickets are still available for our next home fixture on Easter Monday! CLICK HERE to secure your tickets for our game against Blackburn Rovers on Monday 10 March!