PREVIEW: ROTHERHAM UNITED (H)

28 December 2022

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

- Huddersfield Town vs Rotherham United
- 7:45pm Kick-Off at the John Smith’s Stadium
- Available to watch on iFollow HTAFC

For our last host game of 2022, we welcome Rotherham United to the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday 29 December; 7:45pm Kick-Off in the Sky Bet Championship.

The final game of the festive period will be at home against our South Yorkshire rivals before we kick off the new year. In October, The Terriers conceded two goals in the last game against the Millers, with the scoreline ending 2-1.

THE OPPOSITION

Rotherham United were promoted back into the Sky Bet Championship for the 2022/23 season following their relegation to League One for the 2021/22 season.

Matt Taylor was appointed manager of Rotherham United at the beginning of October following his departure from Exeter City. Taylor signed a contract with the South Yorkshire club until 2026 following the exit of Paul Warne to Derby County.

The Millers currently sit 19th in the table after their 2-2 home draw against Stoke City on Boxing Day.

ONES TO WATCH

Chiedozie Ogbene

Ogbene is the top goal scorer so far this season for Rotherham United, with a total of six goals and one assist. Ogbene joined the Millers in the summer of 2019 on a three-year-deal from Brentford. Ogbene has an average shot accuracy of 72.2% and has made approximately 18 key passes this season. Following an injury that left him sitting out for a large period of the 2020/21 season, Ogbene was eager to return and made no sign of losing his ability.

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Richard Wood

The English defender has scored four goals this season, making him the second highest goal scorer for the Millers this season. Wood has made two assists and over half of the shots he’s taken being on target. The defender joined Rotherham United from Charlton Athletic in 2014 but struggled to make it as a regular in the First Team and went on three short loan spells to Crawley Town, Fleetwood Town, and Chesterfield in 2014 and 2015.

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Oliver Rathbone

Rathbone has scored two goals over the course of this season. The central midfielder joined the Millers in the summer of 2021, on a three-year contract. Rathbone played for Manchester United U18s-U23s before joining Rochdale at the end of the 2016/17 season. The 26-year-old primarily operates in the middle of the park however he has been known to take a known stance in defence. Rathbone has played over 150 matches for Rochdale, including 40 appearances in his final season there in which he scored 3 goals.

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TEAM NEWS

Head Coach Mark Fotheringham will provided full team news at his next press conference on Wednesday 28 December 2022.

KIT

Town will be wearing their famous blue and white stripes when they welcome Rotherham United to the John Smith’s Stadium on Thursday evening.

CLICK HERE to get your 2022/23 home kit!

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HOW TO WATCH

Tickets are on sale online now – CLICK HERE – and are available to purchase from the Ticket Office.

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 Thursday evening, you can watch and listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

A single match pass for the Terriers game at the John Smith’s Stadium is just £10, and supporters will be able to stream the full 90 minutes of action for that price.

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 2-0 ROTHERHAM

29 December 2022

Town head into the New Year with three points and a clean sheet at home

- Huddersfield Town 2-0 Rotherham United
- Duane Holmes and Jordan Rhodes on the scoresheet
- Intensity secured Town all three points

Huddersfield Town earned all three points in a great team performance against Rotherham United in the Sky Bet Championship.

A first half goal from Duane Holmes and a second half goal from Jordan Rhodes, alongside our relentless effort meant that we never looked like losing.

That secured our first back-to-back wins of the season, and lifted the Terriers off the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table.

The Terriers dominated both the first and second half on Thursday evening.

After an even start, the first clear chance for either side came from our visitors after Tom Eaves was played onside in the box, but his shot went straight into the arms of Lee Nicholls.

However, after this Town looked to be the most dangerous as they pushed forwards and had multiple attempts at crossing the ball into the box, but Rotherham managed to get all of their men back in time as they blocked all of the chances. Kaine Kesler-Hayden broke through the line of defence and pulled Viktor Johansson off his line and was about to head past him onto goal - he appeared to be tripped by Johansson just outside the box, but a foul wasn’t given.

Great play between Jack Rudoni and David Kasumu worked the ball across to Kesler-Hayden, and despite his great cross into the box it was defended well by the Millers to deny the chance.

Shortly after this, the ball was passed to Rudoni on the side of the box from Rhodes, who was positioned just on the edge of the centre of the box, and Rudoni crossed the ball to the far post and found the head of Duane Holmes, but this went high and over the bar – Town had the brightest start of both the sides.

Town took the lead in the 31st minute as Holmes scored his first goal of the season! Our number 19 created space for himself on the edge of the box before he moved into the area and hit the ball across the ‘keeper , with his effort striking the post on its way into the back of the net.

Not long after this, Kesler-Hayden was brought down by Cohen Bramall just outside the area. The set-piece was taken by Rudoni, who sent a great delivery into the box, but this was headed just wide by Tom Lees.

The last piece of action for the first half came in the first minute of added time as Rudoni carried the ball down the right side and sent a great ball into the box. Josh Ruffels and Rhodes sprinted into the box but they were unable to make contact on the ball and it went out for a goal kick.

Town came out in the second half just as well as they did in the first, while Rotherham also came out a better side as they searched for their equaliser.

Straight from the restart, Town looked ready to get their second of the evening as Rhodes sent a great cross from corner of the box on the edge of the goal line, but neither Holmes nor Rudoni could turn it into the back of the net.

Johansson made a great save in the 53rd minute as Rhodes almost made it two after great play from Rudoni and Holmes again. Rhodes was just unable to make a proper connection on his shot from close range and the Rotherham United ‘keeper reacted well to make the save.

Rhodes finally scored the second goal of the evening and made it two for the Terriers! After a brilliant ball was squared to him by Kesler-Hayden, Rhodes had a brilliant first touch and shot from just inside the box to score his 97th Town goal.

As they tried to get themselves back in the game, Chiedozie Ogbene shot for Rotherham United from inside the box, but this went straight to Nicholls, and he saved it comfortably.

Still applying the pressure on our Terriers, Oliver Rathbone played the ball to Jamie Lindsay in the centre of the box, but this went high and wide and their best chance to find the back of the net was missed.

A great defensive tackle was made by Kasumu as he raced back to his own goal line and dispossessed Ogbene who was clean through on goal, he then went the extra mile and earnt a goal kick for the side by knocking the ball out of play off the Rotherham player.

The last chance of the game came for our visitors as they had a half chance to get one back in the 78th minute, but their second half substitute Hakeem Odoffin headed the ball well high of the bar and the Terriers finish 2022 with back-to-back wins.

Town’s team (5-4-1)
Lee Nicholls; Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Will Boyle, Josh Ruffels; Jack Rudoni (Sorba Thomas, 61’), Jonathan Hogg, David Kasumu (Connor Mahoney, 85’), Duane Holmes (Etienne Camara, 85’); Jordan Rhodes (Tyreece Simpson, 74’)

Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Brodie Spencer, Loick Ayina

Goals
Duane Holmes (31’), Jordan Rhodes (56’)