PREVIEW: BRISTOL CITY (H)

7 December 2023

An in-depth look at Town's next Sky Bet Championship opponents

- Huddersfield Town vs Bristol City
- Saturday 9 December 2023, 3pm kick-off
- Full preview of what to expect from the Robins

It’s now nine straight season’s in the Sky Bet Championship for Bristol City since being promoted at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, with the Robins not having featured in the top tier of English football since being relegated at the end of the 1979/80 season.

First crossing paths with Town on 2 December 1911, the two sides have met 65 times since with the Terriers winning 28, City 25 and 12 ending in draws. Even in our last five fixtures, too, both sides have won twice and shared one draw, which was the last meeting at the John Smith’s Stadium in March that ended goalless.

THE OPPOSITION

Making the decision to part way with Nigel Pearson after 14 games of the season, Bristol City were in 15th place at the time of his dismissal, having won five, drawn three and lost six. Winning at home against Sheffield Wednesday under their interim Head Coach, they made the permanent appointment of Liam Manning on 7 November.

Having allowed 15 players to go in the summer - including Alex Scott for a reported £25 million fee - they have signed just six to replace them, with five signing permanently and one arriving on loan. Sat in 14th place in the Sky Bet Championship, they are seven places and five points above Town, and still only five points off the Play-Off places in the other direction.

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THIER MANAGER

Having had one season as a professional player with Ipswich Town after leaving the Norwich City academy, Manning’s playing days were mainly within non-league football, with one stint playing in Iceland within that time.

Beginning his coaching career young, Manning worked within the Ipswich Town academy before moving to Premier League side West Ham United to lead their U23 team, leaving after four years to join the City Football Group in an initial academy director capacity, before taking charge of Lommel SK in Belgium.

Moving back to England, spells with Milton Keynes and Oxford United followed, and Manning’s high possession, high pressing style began to create a name for him, with him still a couple of years shy of his 40th birthday.

Departing his role at Oxford United with the side second in Sky Bet League One, he made the move to Bristol City and the Sky Bet Championship shortly after.

LAST TIME OUT

Having hit the lead shortly after the half hour mark at home, it was a second half to forget with Norwich City hitting back twice to come from behind and win. Pegged back through an own goal on the hour, the home fans left disappointed after their visitors snatched all three points at the death, scoring in the fifth minute of added time at the end of regulation.

Previous Starting XI: O’Leary; Veneer, Dickie, Pring; Tanner, James, Gardner-Hickman, Sykes; Weimann, Conway, Knight (3-4-3)

FORMATION

Having initially given his side some continuity within their 4-2-3-1 shape in his first two games in charge, Manning then made the switch to a back three, having his side line up in a 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3 in their last two outings.

Tactically fluid, Manning switched between three and four man defences with Oxford United in his previous role, but opted for a 4-2-3-1 on more occasions that not. Still feeling out his new side and what works best for them, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bristol City make adjustments in game defending on the score, switching between shapes after making substitutions.

WHO TO WATCH

Max O’Leary

27-year-old goalkeeper O’Leary has had to remain patient for his chance between the sticks for Bristol City, having spent time out on loan with Kidderminster, Bath City, Solihull Moors and Shrewsbury on his way into the City first team from the academy. Having played every minute possible in the Sky Bet Championship this season, O’Leary is staking his claim to be their long-term number one, so will be motivated to perform to the best of his abilities, especially under new management.

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Sam Bell

Another graduate of the Bristol City academy, 21-year-old Bell has hit the ground running in the Sky Bet Championship after spending a short period out on loan with Grimsby Town last season. Having scored four times already this campaign, Bell has appeared in every league game for his team, usually operating from the left wing. Also able to plenty centrally or from the right when required, his last goal came over 10 games ago in September against Stoke City.

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Harry Cornick

Signed from Luton Town in January 2023, pacey forward Cornick is one of Bristol City’s go-to impact substitutions, having only started 20% of their league games to date, but appearing in each fixture regardless. With one goal in 19 at present, he looks to stretch the game and get in behind tired defences, which Town will do well to be wary of whether he’s in from the start or from the bench. Able to play anywhere across the front three, that’s the fluidity that Manning likes from his forward players.

Harry Cornick Bristol City 2023 16x9.png

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Town boss Darren Moore is yet to face the press this week, speaking to the media at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex tomorrow afternoon, Friday 8 December 2023.

Supporters will be able to watch the conference live on HTTV to hear all of the latest team news as it’s shared.

KIT

Back home, it’s blue and white for the Terriers on Saturday afternoon as always.

Having recently been restocked in all sizes, supporters still have plenty of time to get theirs before Christmas, with our Club Shop open each day in the run up to 25 December!

CLICK HERE to browse online.

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TICKET NEWS

You can still join us at the John Smith’s Stadium by CLICKING HERE!

Come down to HD1 on Saturday afternoon and enjoy the pre-game Fan Zone and Christmas entertainment before heading inside for the game.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Due to the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off time, video match passes for this fixture will not be available in the United Kingdom, but will be purchasable abroad.

Supporters who still want to follow every second of the game can purchase an audio match pass and not miss a second of the game!

CLICK HERE to find out more.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 1-1 BRISTOL CITY

9 December 2023

Goal in each half at the John Smith's Stadium sees the fixture drawn

- Huddersfield Town 1-1 Bristol City
- Delano Burgzorg had given Town first half lead
- Preston next in HD1 on Tuesday 12 December

Having opened the scoring in the first half through Delano Burgzorg, an equaliser moments after the game had reduced following the half-time break saw Town settle for a share of the points.

Town almost suffered the worst start imaginable, with Bristol City getting a chance on goal within the opening 10 seconds or so, but Chris Maxwell did enough to block the strike from close range. Going up the other end through Jaheim Headley moments later, his cross was too powerful for Wiles to control on the run, with the away side accepting the goal kick.

Lining-up in a 3-5-2 on paper, on the ball the Terriers had plenty of options in the final third with both Koroma and Headley pushing high up the field from their positions on the wing. With the away side in a 4-2-3-1, both teams were bypassing midfield early on, in an attempt to overwhelm the defence.

That overload almost worked for Town 15 minutes in, with Delano Burgzorg getting a knock down from Ward and setting Josh Koroma off down the right. Beating his man to make room to cross, his ball to the near post was claimed by the goalkeeper before Ward could get his head near it.

A sign of the open nature of the game, a chance for Dickie that Maxwell saved with his feet to concede a corner ended with Town having a cross along the six yard line cleared away. Claiming the corner on the full, Maxwell released Koroma who beat three before playing Ward in down the left, and his ball across for Burgzorg was the one cleared.

Celebrating his 33rd birthday, Danny Ward came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute in unusual circumstances. Closing down the goalkeeper, O’Leary tried to play the ball over Ward’s head with an overcomplicated chip, but our number 25 read the intention and caught the ball with his forehead, beating the goalkeeper and hitting the side netting.

Not having to wait much longer for the opener, David Kasumu showed what he’s all about in the 24th minute, putting it on a plate for Delano Burgzorg to open the scoring. With a ball dropped in behind the defence, Kasumu sprinted past two who had a head start on him to claim, bursting through to the edge of the box before squaring to his forward.

Taking a touch, Burgzorg finished low with his left boot, giving O’Leary no chance from close distance. The type of breakaway goal that Town have threatened in recent weeks, David Kasumu deserves huge credit for his anticipation, energy and composure in creating it.

With more play in midfield from both sides following the goal in recognition of how open play had become, Kasumu almost repeated his run forward 10 minutes later following a turnover on the edge of Town’s box. Won back by Wiles, captain Hogg played it through to Kasumu on the right wing who made his way up the touchline at pace. Pinging a low cross into the six yard box, the delivery was just behind Ward and too far ahead of Burgzorg for either to apply the finish.

Still looking for a second with a few minutes left of the half, a spell of Town possession on the edge of the Bristol City box ended with Josh Koroma sucking a full-back in before skipping past him. Making a run across the box to the near post, Danny Ward almost got on the end of it, but it was headed away well just before he could make a connection. Burgzorg and Koroma combined a couple of times more down the right with the crosses headed away by the defence on each occasion, with Town taking their lead into the half-time break.

Having almost scored within a minute of the game starting, the away side did just that after the half-time break. Having had the backline broken with a ball through from Dickie, a simple ball across from Weimann was tucked home first time by Conway, in a very similar situation as Delano Burgzorg had opened the scoring.

On a high after their goal, Mark Sykes went close again for the away side a few minutes later. Working a short corner out to him on the edge of the box in space, he opened up to curl with power, just putting too much on it as it dipped just over the crossbar.

Fighting back into the game, Town had a number of disagreements with the referee in the minutes that followed. Spinning past Williams in midfield, Kasumu was the first to be aggrieved, with the midfielder being pulled back with both arms, as Williams looked to be trying to get a piggy-back from his opposite number. Given the foul, no card was produced.

Just two minutes late, the Terriers had a huge claim for a penalty. With the ball worked to Burgzorg inside the box, he cut back on himself to beat a defender with the ball bouncing. His touch appeared to flick the ball straight into the hand of Tanner inside his own box, but the referee was unmoved and play was allowed to continue.

Burgzorg almost put something very special together on the stroke of an hour played, sprinting hard at the defence into the box. Appearing to nut meg one defender, he charged around him to get back on the ball with just the goalkeeper to beat, but a covering defender got a foot in just before he could regather the ball.

Making a series of substitutes over the next few minutes, Wiles and Ward made way from Brahima Diarra and Rarmani Edmonds-Green, as Josh Koroma pushed forward centrally. Opening up again as it had been in the first period, Chris Maxwell was the next goalkeeper called into action with Knight spinning to shoot in the box, earning a corner - which was headed clear - after Maxwell tipped around his post.

Hotting up inside the final 10 minutes, both Pearson for Town and Conway for Bristol City saw themselves cautioned, with Josh Koroma coming close with a cheeky volley with his back to goal, only for a block from the defence to redirect the ball kindly into the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Despite both sides committing bodies forward in the final moments and throughout added time, neither was able to find a winner, with each leaving the John Smith’s Stadium a point better off.

TOWN’S TEAM (3-5-2)

Chris Maxwell; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Tom Lees; Josh Koroma (Austerfield 90+1'), David Kasumu, Jonathan Hogg, Ben Wiles (Diarra 65'), Jaheim Headley; Delano Burgzorg, Danny Ward (Edmonds-Green 73')

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES

Lee Nicholls; Tom Edwards, Yuta Nakayama, Loick Ayina, Tom Iorpenda, Michael Stone

TOWN GOAL

Delano Burgzorg 24’

TOWN BOOKINGS

Pearson 79'

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