PREVIEW: BLACKBURN ROVERS (A)

4 November 2022

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

- Blackburn Rovers vs Huddersfield Town
- 3pm kick-off at Ewood Park
- Listen on iFollow HTAFC

Huddersfield Town are back in Sky Bet Championship action on Saturday 5 November when they travel to face Blackburn Rovers; 3pm kick-off.

The Terriers come into the game looking to bounce back after losing to Sunderland last time out, with Rovers themselves looking to return to winning ways after their own midweek loss against Coventry City which leaves them second in the table behind Burnley.

THE OPPOSITION

This is Blackburn’s fifth consecutive season in the Sky Bet Championship since gaining promotion back to the division in April 2018, and they will be looking to improve upon their 8th place finish last season, narrowly missing out on the Play-Offs.

46-year-old Jon Dahl Tomasson has been at the helm since July 2022 after the departure of Tony Mowbray. He’s led the Rovers to 11 wins and eight losses this season.

ONES TO WATCH

Ben Brereton-Diaz

Brereton-Diaz is Rovers’ top goal scorer this season and has started every game, leading to him getting eight goals and one assist. He comes into this season off the back of his best season, with 22 goals and three assists which led to him winning the Championship Player of the Month once. Since joining from Nottingham Forest, Brereton-Diaz has made 146 appearances, scoring 39 goals and getting 13 assists. His most recent goal came against Sunderland in a 2-0 victory on 18 October.

Ben Breteton Diaz 2022 Blackburn 16x9.png

Tyrhys Dolan

Dolan joined Blackburn in July 2020 after leaving Preston North End’s academy. The 20-year old winger has enjoyed his best season so far, with four assists and two goals across all 18 games this season. Dolan has been used all across Blackburn’s front line this season, being used most commonly on the right wing. The Englishman has also scored one goal in his two appearances for England Under-20s.

Tyrhys Dolan Blackburn 2022 16x9.png

Thomas Kaminski

Kaminski joined Blackburn in August 2020, from Gent and has played every minute of this seasons Sky Bet Championship. The Belgian has kept seven clean sheets across the 18 games conceding 18 goals. In his career, Kaminski has played in the UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Europa League for Anderlecht and Gent respectively. The Belgian has kept 98 clean sheets across his 392 games winning back to back Belgian Pro Leagues with Anderlecht as well as a Danish Superliga in the 2015-16 season with FC Copenhagen.

Tomas Kaminski Blackburn 2022 16x9.png

TEAM NEWS

Mark Fotheringham will provide all of the latest team news in his press conference today, Friday 4 November 2022.

KIT

Town will be wearing their all black away kit against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

CLICK HERE to get your 2022-23 away kit!

Mark Fotheringham Sorba Thomas 16x9.png

HOW TO WATCH

Tickets are on sale until 2pm on Friday 4 November – CLICK HERE – and are available to purchase from the ticket office.

For full details regarding Pay on the Day and the planned train strikes, please CLICK HERE.

Adults - £18.75
65 and over - £10
18-23 years - £5
12-17 years - £3
Under 12s - £2

Please not that anyone under 12 tickets must be bought with an accompanying adult ticket.

DISABLED SUPPORTERS

Wheelchair users and Ambulant disabled supporters should pay their relevant age category with a carer ticket free of charge.

COACH TRAVEL

Official coach travel is available for this fixture, costing £17 per person.

Coaches will depart from the St Andrew’s Road car park at 12.15pm on Saturday 5 November.

CLICK HERE to book.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers, you’ll be able to listen to the game via iFollow HTAFC.

Live audio commentary will be available for the game when purchase either a Monthly pass or Audio Match Pass. You can purchase a UK season pass for £45, Monthly pass for £4.49 or an Audio Match Pass for £2.50.

CLICK HERE to sign up for iFollow HTAFC!

Match Reports

REPORT: BLACKBURN 1-0 TOWN

5 November 2022

Town cannot find clinical edge at Ewood Park

- Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Huddersfield Town
- Ben Brereton Diaz scores the game’s only goal
- Second half performance still doesn’t herald goal

It was a familiar story for Town as, despite many things to like about the performance, they came away empty-handed from high-flying Blackburn Rovers.

In the end, Chile international striker Ben Brereton Diaz showed a clinical edge that once again escaped Town to grab all three points for his side, scoring the only goal of the game in the 35th minute from Blackburn’s only chance of the first half.

Town had limited their hosts without creating much themselves in the first 45, but penned Rovers back in their own half for the final half hour – only to fail to find the back of the net.

With Yuta Nakayama out for the season due to the Achilles injury sustained in the midweek game against Sunderland, Mark Fotheringham handed a first Championship start to Will Boyle, who was probably Town’s best player on the afternoon.

Alongside Michał Helik, Town’s defence stifled Blackburn for 35 minutes, but one counter-attack ultimately settled the game. Diaz, who plays wide on the left, constantly looked to run behind and timed once such movement well to get in behind 18-year-old Brodie Spencer. Although the Northern Irishman, alongside Helik, got goal-side momentarily, the forward checked back onto his right foot and reversed the shot between skipper Lee Nicholls and the post from 15 yards.

Spencer and Boyle had to cover ground to take the ball from Diaz as Blackburn tried to break before the half-time interval, whilst our best chance of the first 45 was a tame shot from Duane Holmes after he cut in from the left flank.

However, Town did pen Blackburn back for large swatches of the second half, and created the game’s best chance in the 53rd minute. Helik started the move, finding Danny Ward with a low pass forward; the striker then span left and played Holmes the ball out wide. Although Duane’s first cross was blocked, he reacted quickest to volley the rebound into the six yard box – only for Jack Rudoni to scuff an effort at the goalkeeper.

Nicholls had to be alert to save shots on the counter from Diaz and Morton, but Town made the running in front of the travelling fans. Josh Ruffels couldn’t make contact with a Sorba Thomas corner that fell at the back post before Sorba, Ward, and Rudoni all flashed balls across the face of goal without a connection at the end.

Helik flicked a header wide and Sorba Thomas had shouts for a penalty turned away by the referee in a challenge that saw him leave the pitch with blood flowing from a stud-shaped gash in his leg.

Brahima Diarra almost made an immediate impact after coming on 20 minutes from time, receiving the ball on the half turn and driving forward before uncorking a powerful drive that the home goalkeeper had to push behind.

Despite the territorial pressure the equaliser never came, leaving players and fans alike frustrated.

Unfortunately, David Kasumu also received a second half yellow card that will rule him out of our midweek trip to QPR through suspension.

Town’s team (4-5-1)
Lee Nicholls (c); Brodie Spencer, Michał Helik, Will Boyle, Josh Ruffels; Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu, Etienne Camara (Brahima Diarra, 72’), Jack Rudoni, Duane Holmes; Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 81’)

Unused subs
Nicholas Bilokapic; Luke Mbete, Connor Mahoney, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Ben Jackson

Bookings
Jack Rudoni (36’), Etienne Camara (40’), David Kasumu (68’)