PREVIEW: WEST BROM (H)

7 March 2024

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

- Huddersfield Town vs West Bromwich Albion
- Sunday 10 March 2024; noon kick-off
- What to expect from our game against West Brom

An opening goal from Delano Burgzorg and an injury time winner from Jack Rudoni saw Huddersfield Town take all three points in the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns in September 2023, with the Terriers looking to do the double over the West Midlands side on Sunday.

Meeting on five occasions over the past three seasons, the Terriers have won two, drawn two and lost just one. This weekend, Town will be looking to make it three wins from the last six games against the Baggies.

THE OPPOSITION

Fifth in the Sky Bet Championship - and hopeful of a place in the Play-Offs come May - West Brom currently have 60 points under their belt, placing them five points ahead of Norwich City who sit just outside of the Play-Offs in seventh.

Looking to build on their so far successful campaign, the Baggies have won 17 of their 36 fixtures this season, losing 10 and drawing nine. Five points ahead of the Canaries, Corberán’s men will be hopeful of retaining their top six place at the end of the season.

West Brom were on track to get their 18th win of the current campaign in their midweek game against Queens Park Rangers, but had to settle for a draw after a late equaliser from the Hoops.

THEIR MANAGER

A familiar face for Town fans, Carlos Corberán managed the Terriers for two seasons from 2020/21 to 2021/22, taking the Club to Wembley for the Play-Off Final during his final season in charge.

Before arriving in HD1, Corberán worked under Marcelo Bielsa at neighbouring rivals Leeds United, later spending a brief period with Olympiacos after his departure from Town, and finally heading to West Brom.

Returning to Sky Bet Championship football in October 2022, the Spaniard was appointed as Head Coach of the Baggies on a two-and-a-half-year deal. So far, Corberán has won 35 games of the 72 he has been in charge, drawing 14 and losing 23.

LAST TIME OUT

Making the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday, West Brom came from one nil down and were leading 2-1 before Sam Field scored his second of the evening in the 81st minute - resulting in a share of the points in the capital.

The Baggies saw just 48% of possession on Wednesday evening, and had to deal with 20 QPR shots thrown towards the ‘keeper Alex Palmer - with six of those being on target compared to their two.

Previous Starting XI: Palmer; Furlong, Kipre, Pieters, Reach; Yokuslu, Mowatt; Fellows, Diangana, Johnston; Wallace (4-2-3-1)

FORMATION

Often favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation, Corberán has rarely deviated from this system throughout the 2023/24 campaign, including in their most recent draw against the Hoops.

At the start of the season, the Spanish coach opted for a 3-4-2-1 on seven occasions, which saw the Baggies lose just once. However, from the start of February, West Brom have consistently used their current 4-2-3-1 structure - winning four, drawing three and losing only once.

A style of play that is popular amongst many in the Sky Bet Championship, their formation allows Corberán's men to commit bodies forward whilst remaining solid in defence.

WHO TO WATCH

Alex Palmer

A product of West Bromwich Albion’s Academy, the shot stopper enjoyed several loan spells before finally making his league debut for the Baggies in October 2022. Gaining his experience at clubs such as Kidderminster Harriers, Plymouth Argyle, and Lincoln City, as well as successful loan spells with Oldham Athletic, Notts County, and Luton Town.

Last season saw his breakthrough campaign with West Brom as he made 23 appearances, helping the Baggies finish in ninth. Starting every Sky Bet Championship game so far this season, the 27-year-old has continued his excellent run of form, with his side pushing to keep their place in the Play-Offs.

Grady Diangana

Initially on loan with the Baggies for the 2019/20 season, Diangana signed a permanent deal with West Brom in September 2020 after he helped them secure promotion back to the Premier League - scoring and assisting in the game of the season against QPR. During his loan spell, the now 25-year-old scored eight goals in 30 appearances.

Since signing for West Brom, the Democratic Republic of Congo international has made 118 league appearances and scored 14 goals, including the seven goals he has to his name so far this season.

Tom Fellows

Another product of the Baggies’ Academy, Tom Fellows made his league debut as a substitute against Reading in December 2021. Whilst the 20-year-old only made four appearances last season, Fellows has taken to the field 26 times during their current campaign, scoring four and creating four assists so far.

Despite making four appearances for West Brom last season, Fellows went on a season long loan to Sky Bet League Two side Crawley Town, where he played 38 times, assisting on two occasions.

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Huddersfield Town Head Coach André Breitenreiter will update the press on team news tomorrow (Friday 8 March) ahead of Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture with West Brom.

You will be able to watch this live via HTTV on YouTube.

KIT

The Terriers will be in their traditional blue and white stripes this weekend, as we welcome the Baggies to the John Smith’s Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship.

Still available in all sizes, CLICK HERE to get yours today!

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iFOLLOW HTAFC

Audio Match Passes for this fixture are available at £2.50 each, giving supporters who are unable to join us on the day full live coverage of the game.

CLICK HERE to find out how to book!

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 1-4 WEST BROM

10 March 2024

Terriers defeated despite going ahead at the JSS.

- Huddersfield Town 1-4 West Bromwich Albion
- Delano Burgzorg gave us a lead at the half time break
- Baggies hit back strongly to take all three points

Town were defeated by Play-Off chasing West Bromwich Albion on a disappointing afternoon at the John Smith’s Stadium, with a promising opening half coming to nothing.

The Terriers came out of the blocks in impressive fashion and deserved the half time lead that Delano Burgzorg’s seventh of the season gave them. They pressed the Baggies high, forced them into errors and could have scored more had they got the final pass wrong.

However, the tables soon turned as the away side scored two goals to turn the game on the head, adding two more as the half progressed in clinical fashion.

Town lined up 3-5-2 for the game, with Burgzorg joining Sorba Thomas in a front two full of pace and athleticism. Sorba in particular was tireless in his pressing and a constant force going forward, whilst the opening 45 saw us win our battles all over the pitch.

We had threatened before the goal through a mix of probing passes and quality set piece deliveries that just didn’t quite off, but then Burgzorg opened the scoring on the half hour.

Credit went to Tom Lees, who stepped into the centre circle inside the West Brom half to win a 50-50 with captain Jed Wallace. He quickly moved the ball forward to Burgzorg, who jinked past the outside of full back Darnell Furlong to enter the penalty area before squeezing a low shot beneath goalkeeper Alex Palmer in front of the Cowshed Loyal.

Unfortunately, momentum swung the other way in the second half as Town couldn’t match the intensity of their first half press, combined with a change in shape from Baggies boss Carlos Corberán.

The equaliser came in the 52nd minute and could have been called offside when the ball was played forward. The flag never came, and Andreas Weimann managed to squeeze a cross past Lees for Mikey Johnston to get to, despite four Town defenders being around him.

Town then had a huge chance to restore the lead, only to spurn it. Burgzorg hassled Okay into a bad back pass and raced clear, but his shot from in front of goal was too close to goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who turned it around the post.

The West Brom second then came, albeit it was slightly unlucky from a Town perspective. Jonathan Hogg headed an initial corner clear and when the ball was returned into the box, it bobbled among a large group of players before hitting the onrushing Kyle Bartley and rolling into the bottom corner.

West Brom’s third was a stunning long range strike from midfielder Okay – a rising drive from 30 yards that gave the diving Nicholls no chance.

The fourth in the 73rd minute killed the game, with Johnston grabbing a second in slightly similar fashion to Burgzorg’s opener for Town.

Despite the scoreline, Town did create some big chances to make the scoreline closer.

First Ward couldn’t get on the end of Burgzorg’s cross-come-shot after good work from Thomas and then had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call on the Dutchman in the build-up.

We should have scored in the 81st minute when Thomas found Jack Rudoni in the box, but Palmer saved his shot from point-blank range and then Ward’s follow-up.

Town’s team (3-5-2)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik (Radinio Balker, 75’), Tom Lees; Brodie Spencer, David Kasumu (Danny Ward, 65’), Jonathan Hogg (c) (Alex Matos, 75’), Jack Rudoni, Jaheim Headley (Josh Koroma, 65’); Sorba Thomas, Delano Burgzorg

Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Brahima Diarra, Ben Wiles, Ben Jackson, Tom Iorpenda

Town booking
Delano Burgzorg (30’)