PREVIEW: STOKE CITY (A)

13 February 2023

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

- Stoke City vs Huddersfield Town
- 7.45pm Kick-Off at the Bet365 Stadium
- Available to watch and listen on iFollow HTAFC

The Terriers will continue their 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign on Wednesday 15 February at the Bet365 Stadium where they will take on Stoke City in a 7.45pm Kick-off.

Town came away with all three points from the home game against the Potters at the beginning of the season, where they successfully had a 3-1 lead against the West Midlands team.

THE OPPOSITION

Stoke spent ten years in the top flight of English football before being relegated back to the Championship following their 2017/18 campaign.

Alex Neil, former manager of Sunderland, replaced Michael O’Neill as manager of the Potters following the team’s performance during the 2021/22 campaign which found them drop to 14th in the table after a strong lead.

Alex Neill 16_9.jpg

ONES TO WATCH

Jacob Brown

The forward has scored six goals so far this season and has had approximately 38 shots at goal, as well as having a 63% pass accuracy. After beginning his career at Barnsley, the Halifax local returned to the club a couple of years later where he was utilised predominately as a winger and won the January EFL Young Player of the Month award in 2019. Brown made his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win against Wolves in the EFL Cup and was a main part of the squad during his maiden season in North Staffordshire, playing 46 times. His performance last season led to him being called up to the Scotland national side in the November International break and made his debut against Moldova.

Lewis Baker

The midfielder is currently the top goal scorer for Stoke, scoring six goals and making five assists for the Potters this season in the 31 league appearances he has made. Baker has made over 19 successful interceptions and has become a vital cog in Stokes starting XI. The 27-year-old joined Stoke on a permanent transfer from Chelsea in the 2022 January transfer window. Baker hit the ground running, scoring an impressive eight goals in the 21 appearances he made in the second half of last season. His performance earned him a new three-year deal with the club in June 2022 before he was appointed captain a month later.

Lewis Baker 16_9.jpg

Josh Tymon

The defender has become a key component in the Potters back-line, winning an approximate 34 duels and making over 20 clearances in the 17 appearances he has made this season. After being out for injury in November, Tymon’s returned to the fold in style as he fired home the only goal of the game – allowing Stoke to walk away from Wigan with three points. Tymon’s has also made five assists this season.

TEAM NEWS

Full team news will be provided at the next press conference at 9am on Tuesday 14 February.

KIT

The Terriers will sport the all black kit on Wednesday evening - get your replica HERE!

TICKETS

Tickets are available online now – CLICK HERE – and can be purchased from the Ticket Office during open hours.

There will be no pay on the day for Town fans, so you must buy in advance from our Ticket Office.

PRICES

Adults – £25
Over 65s - £19
Under 18s - £15
Under 11s - £12

PRICES FOR DISABLED SUPPORTERS

Adult - £19
Over 65s - £19
Under 18s - £15
Under 11s - £12

There are eight disabled parking passes available at £10 each. Disabled parking is located directly behind the away end.

Please email dlo@htafc.com to book car parking or if you require headsets.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend the game on Wednesday evening, you can watch and listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

A single match pass for the Terriers game at the Bet365 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

Match Reports

REPORT: STOKE 3-0 TOWN

15 February 2023

Disappointing night in the Midlands

Huddersfield Town fell to a deserved defeat at the hands of Stoke City, with a red card and three goals conceded.

The first goal of the night – another set piece concession just before the quarter-hour mark – seemed to deflate the Terriers and despite showing more at the start of the second period, a red card for Will Boyle led to two more goals conceded to give the scoreline a comprehensive look.

Town started the game off in decent fashion and although danger man Tyrese Campbell had the first shot of the game at the other end, they moved the ball nicely – and Josh Koroma was inches away from finding Martyn Waghorn with a low cross that was just cleared.

However, the flow of the half changed with the first goal in the 13th minute. It came from another corner, conceded when Matty Pearson had to tackle Campbell; Will Smallbone’s drilled delivery found Phil Jagielka at the back post, who had evaded marker Tom Lees to place his header in the only place it could go in – above Hogg’s head at the back post.

That concession clearly rocked Town’s confidence, as Stoke City took control. Tomáš Vaclík – fit after being subbed in the previous game at Wigan Athletic with a groin issue – had to make three saved before the half hour from Campbell, Ben Pearson and Jacob Brown.

The Terriers did recover right at the end of the half, despite the loss of Matty Pearson through injury, and tried their luck through some late set pieces of their own. The closest we came to a goal came a minute before the interval when birthday boy Scott High was fouled by Jagielka on the right, allowing Anthony Knockaert to swing a ball into the near post; that was met by the head of Lees, but his powerful effort cannoned off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten before dropping harmlessly behind.

Town competed slightly better in the first minutes of the second half, with Koroma’s knockdown almost finding Rudoni in the area but for the final defender, but any momentum was killed off when Will Boyle received his second yellow card in the 65th minute for a challenge on Dwight Gayle.

Stoke made their man advantage count in the 73rd minute when Campbell’s hard low ball into the box found Jacob Brown; Headley blocked his first shot, but the rebound fell to the former Barnsley man, who comprehensively beat our goalkeeper to double the lead.

Town couldn’t muster a fightback, with a 25-yard Knockaert free kick the only work that the home goalkeeper had to do, and instead Stoke scored again in added time. Lees brought down Brown in the area after he had skinned Headley, allowing Lewis Baker to beat Vaclík from 12 yards.

Town’s team (4-3-3)
Tomáš Vaclík; Matty Pearson (Matthew Lowton, 30’), Tom Lees, Will Boyle, Jaheim Headley; Jack Rudoni, Jonathan Hogg (c) (David Kasumu, 68’), Scott High (Joseph Hungbo, 60’); Josh Koroma, Matty Waghorn (Pat Jones, 68’), Anthony Knockaert

Substitutes
Nicholas Bilokapic; Josh Ruffels, Etienne Camara

Town bookings
Matty Pearson (17’), Jonathan Hogg (42’), Jack Rudoni (47’), Will Boyle (51’)

Town red card
Will Boyle (64’ – second yellow)

Gate
17,700

Town fans
533