PREVIEW: COVENTRY CITY (H)

28 February 2023

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

- Huddersfield Town vs Coventry City
- 3pm kick-off at the John Smith’s Stadium
- Available to listen to on iFollow HTAFC

The Terriers will continue their Sky Bet Championship campaign on Saturday 4 March at the John Smith’s Stadium where they will take on Coventry City; 3pm kick-off.

Following a 2-0 loss at the Coventry Building Society Arena in January, Town will be looking for an improved result and performance in the return fixture at home.

THE OPPOSITION

This is Coventry’s third consecutive season in the Sky Bet Championship after they were promoted as champions of Sky Bet League One in the 2019/20 season.

Mark Robins was appointed manager of Coventry for the second time in March 2017 after his previous managerial spell with the Sky Blues from September 2012 until February 2013.

Since being appointed manager in 2017, Robins has led Coventry to multiple victories from the Sky Bet League Two play-off final to getting the Sky Blues promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship.

Robins is no stranger to the John Smith’s Stadium, having managed the Terriers from February 2013 until the beginning of the 2014/15 season.

The West Midlands side currently sit 11th in the league table, five points off the top six places. However, they have an opportunity to improve on that position this evening, Tuesday 28 February, as they travel to Deepdale to face Preston North End.

ONES TO WATCH

Viktor Gyökeres

Gyökeres is currently the top goal scorer for the Sky Blues this season, with 14 goals and four assists in his 32 league games, cementing himself as a key element of the Coventry side. The 24-year-old initially joined Coventry on loan in January 2021, but this was made permanent ahead of the following campaign. Having played in England for a number of years, the striker also has experience with teams such as Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City. The Swedish international has already won Player of the Month for November this season, after he scored four goals in four games.

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Gustavo Hamer

Coventry City signed the midfielder from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, and he was the first signing made ahead of the 2020/21 season. The 25-year-old started his professional career with Freyenoord in 2016, before joining Dordrecht on a season-long loan where he reached the play-offs and just missed out on promotion – Hamer made 34 appearances and scored three goals for his loan club. Going on to play for PEC Zwolle from 2018 to 2020, Hamer made 48 appearances and scored four goals. Hamer has played 27 games so far this season, 25 from the start, becoming a fan favourite after his stellar 2021/22 campaign with the Sky Blues, voted the club's Player of the Year.

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Kyle McFadzean

The defender has made 21 appearances this season, slotting in to the Coventry City backline with regularity. McFadzean made the move to Coventry back in 2019 following the expiry of his deal with Burton Albion. The experienced defender quickly became a leader at the back for the Sky Blues and working alongside Dom Hyam and Michael Rose, he helped City secure the Sky Bet League One title, which was the fourth promotion of his career. A natural leader for Coventry and vice-captain, he has worn the armband on several occasions for the Sky Blues this season in the absense of Liam Kelly.

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TEAM NEWS

Neil Warnock will provide team news in his next press conference on Thursday 3 March 2023.

KIT

Town will be wearing their famous blue and white stripes as they play in front of our home crowd in their next Sky Bet Championship fixture.

CLICK HERE to buy your 2022/23 home shirt, now on sale with more than 50% off.

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TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now – CLICK HERE – and are available for purchase at 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 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!

There's still time to join us at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon! Get behind Neil and the lads by CLICKING HERE to secure your seat.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 0-4 COVENTRY CITY

4 March 2023

Town defeated at the John Smith’s Stadium

- Huddersfield Town 0-4 Coventry City
- Gyökeres (2), Hamer and Walker score
- Jaheim Headley injured in first half for Town

Town were defeated at the John Smith’s Stadium this afternoon by Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship.

Despite much of the first half being played evenly, Coventry took the initiative after Gyökeres gave the away side the lead.

The first chance of the game fell to Town as early as the third minute after excellent play between Scott High and Jack Rudoni resulted in a excellent cross sent into the box Joe Hungbo onto the head of Matt Lowton, but his header was saved well by Ben Wilson.

Great play was seen again from Hungbo as he released Danny Ward, who’s cutback into the box is deflected out for a Town corner. Rudoni stepped up to take the set piece but it was defended well and headed out of the Coventry box.

Town suffered an early injury blow as Jaheim Headley left the pitch with a hamstring issue, and was replaced by Brahima Diarra.

Upon his arrival into the game, Diarra was fouled by Gustavo Hamer in Town’s attacking half after he started his sprint up the middle of the pitch, through the Coventry City players.

The Sky Blues scored their first goal of the game in the 31st minute by Viktor Gyökeres after a defensive mistake meant he was allowed one-on-one with Nicholas Bilokapic and he slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Despite going behind, Town had a great chance to equalise just two minutes after the Coventry goal as Diarra crossed the ball from the side of the box to the feet of High on the edge of the box. High’s shot took a slight deflection but still had to be pushed away by a diving Wilson to deny the goal.

While searching for that equaliser, excellent work is done by Diarra as he won the ball back and charged at the Coventry goal, but his shot was blocked by Josh Eccles and went out for a corner. This lead to another chance for High as he hit the ball first time in a curled effort, but it went just wide of the goal and the Terriers went into the second half still searching for the equaliser.

Town had a chance in the 48th minute to score their equaliser after High won the ball back in the attacking half and Matty Pearson fancied his chances from outside the box, but his shot was deflected out for a corner.

In the space of four minutes, Coventry scored their second and third goal. Gustavo Hamer scored the second after he shot from a narrow angle for the ball to go into the bottom far corner. Gyökeres completed his brace and notched Coventry’s third goal after he was played onside by Hamer and went one-on-one with Bilokapic and slotted it into the back of the net.

Hungbo drove a low cross into the box, which Ward connected with and fired the ball wide with a first time strike.

Rudoni struck the ball towards the end of the game on target, but it was tipped over the bar by Wilson.

Tyler Walker scored Coventry City’s fourth goal in injury time after being crossed the ball by Gyökeres by the far post for him to tap the ball into the corner of the net.

Town’s Team (3-4-3)
Nicholas Bilokapic; Matty Pearson (Jordan Rhodes, 63’), Tom Lees, Michał Helik; Jaheim Headley (Brahima Diarra, 18’), Jonathan Hogg (c) (Etienne Camara, 80’), Scott High, Matt Lowton; Jack Rudoni, Joe Hungbo, Danny Ward (Tyreece Simpson, 80’).

Unused Subs
Tomáš Vaclík, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Anthony Knockaert