PREVIEW: TOWN vs WATFORD

2 November 2023

An in-depth look at our next opponents in the Sky Bet Championship

- Huddersfield Town vs Watford
- Saturday 4 November 2023, 3pm kick-off
- A look ahead to our next visitors to the John Smith’s Stadium

Having each won away from home in the corresponding fixtures last season, Town will be hoping to out that right when Watford visit the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Just the 34th time the two sides have met in all competitions having first crossed paths in September 1969, only two of those games have come in cup ties. Opening with a draw in that first encounter, only five games have ended that way in over 50 years of games, with Town winning 16 and Watford coming out on top 13 times.

Even in the last 10 meetings, Town and Watford have won five each, with the fixture not ending in a draw since a 1-1 at Vicarage Road back in 1999. The sides have never drawn at the John Smith’s Stadium, last finishing level in Huddersfield at the old Leeds Road in 1976, with the referee blowing for time at 2-2.

THE OPPOSITION

Relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, the Hornets parted company with Caretaker boss Roy Hodgson and appointed Rob Edwards for the Sky Bet Championship campaign ahead.

Not going to plan, Edwards was dismissed in September 2022 and replaced by Slaven Bilic, who himself oversaw six months at Vicarage Road before moving on in March 2023 to make way for Chris Wilder, who remained until the end of the campaign.

With obvious ambitions of returning to the top flight, Valérien Ismaël was introduced in the summer of 2023, and was rewarded with a contract extension in October with Watford backing their new boss despite inconsistent results.

Currently sat in 16th place with a record of four wins, five draws and five losses in 14 games, they are three points and five places above Town heading into this game.

THEIR MANAGER

48-year-old French coach Valérien Ismaël had a long playing career at centre half, playing well over 300 games before hanging up his boots. Representing the likes of Strasbourg, Lens, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich, supporters may remember him from a brief stint in England with Crystal Palace in 1998.

Earning his first coaching position just two years after retirement, Ismaël learned his craft in Germany before taking roles in Cyprus and Austria, eventually taking over at Barnsley in the Sky Bet Championship in 2021. Taking the Tykes into the top six before losing in the Play-Off Semi-Finals, he left in the summer following an approach from West Bromwich Albion.

Parting way with West Brom midway through the 2021/22 campaign, Ismaël worked with Besiktas in Turkey before returning to England this summer with Watford.

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LAST TIME OUT

Opening the scoring inside 10 minutes and equalising late on in the 92nd minute either side of two Millwall goals, it was a 2-2 draw last time for Watford at Vicarage Road.

Zian Flemming and Wes Harding had turned the game on its head for Millwall after Yaser Asprilla had given Watford that early lead, but Mileta Rajovic rescued a point in the dying moments to extend Watford’s unbeaten run to four games.

Previous Starting XI: Bachmann; Lewis, Hoedt, Sierralta, Ngakia; Kone, Livermore, Kayembe; Sema, Bayo, Asprilla (4-3-3)

FORMATION

Watford have lined up in 14 of their opening 15 games of the season in all competition in the same 4-3-3 system, with the one deviation being an experiment with 3-4-3 at the end of September.

Blessed with pace in the wide areas and an abundance of attacking talent, that’s where Watford understandably shift their focus and look to have as many bodies as possible.

The midfield three is often made up of one traditional holding player, with two either side given a more fluid role, allowing them to play box-to-box or drop deeper alongside their number six as and when required.

A flat back four giving them the foundation from which to play, they central defenders will often sit wider with the holding midfielder dropping deeper and splitting them to create a three when in possession.

WHO TO WATCH

Imran Louza

With one goal and three assists in his first 13 games of the 2023/24 campaign, this is Louza’s third season with Watford after making the move from French club Nantes. Still just 24-years-old, the attacking midfielder is a full Moroccan international, scoring on his debut in 2021. Scoring six times and creating a further seven goals in his 57 games for the Hornets to date, last season was his most productive for the club as he was directly involved in nine goals across the campaign.

Yaser Asprilla

19-year-old Columbian international Asprilla joined Watford in 2022, opening the scoring at Vicarage Road against Town last season in a game that would eventually end in our favour. Now a full international for his country, he has scored three and assisted four in his 52 games for Watford so far, with two goals and assists each this campaign. Full of pace and trickery out wide, he will likely operate from one of the wings in the front three should he play.

Matheus Martins

On loan from Udinese since January 2023, Martins is a Brazilian forward who had previously been with Fluminense based in Rio de Janeiro before moving to Serie A. Returning three goals in 13 appearances so far this season, Martins has also represented his country at U16 and U20 level, playing in the U20 World Cup for Brazil. Able to operate from anywhere across the front three, his most natural position is off the left, cutting back inside onto his strongest right foot.

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Town Manager Darren Moore will share an update on the availability within his squad at his next press conference on Friday 3 November when he speaks to the media.

KIT

Back home in HD1, the Terriers will be in blue and white this weekend.

With a new stock of home kits recently received, you can make one of our 2023/24 strips your own with all sizes still available.

CLICK HERE to visit our online store!

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TICKET NEWS

Supporters can still join us at the John Smith’s Stadium this weekend, with all four stands open!

Those who join us in the Big Red Stand Lower Tier will also receive a Club flag.

CLICK HERE to secure your seat.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday, streaming within the UK will not be available as always, however those unable to join us who want to keep up-to-date with every second of the game can do so with an audio match pass!

CLICK HERE to find out more about how to buy.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN vs WATFORD

4 November 2023

Town draw against Watford in the Sky Bet Championship

- Huddersfield Town 0-0 Watford
- Clean sheet for Lee Nicholls
- Draw at home in the Sky Bet Championship

It ended all square at the John Smith's Stadium this afternoon in our Sky Bet Championship fixture against Watford.

Under the poor weather in Huddersfield, the Terriers put out a strong performance and looked positive, despite the result finishing goalless.

The first chance of the game for Town came in the fifth minute as Ben Wiles pushed through on goal. He sent a nice ball to Kyle Hudlin who was being held back, but the striker’s touch back to Wiles gave him the space for a shot. However, this effort was blocked by the Watford defence in the box.

Matty Pearson then blocked a cross from Watford, with the following clearance from Helik hitting Ken Sema in the face and going out for a goal kick. Sema was down for a few minutes while being treated for a head injury, but continued.

Great pressing from Hudlin meant that the Daniel Bachmann was rushed into clearing the ball from a pass back, this ball rebounded off the striker and went out for a goal kick to Watford, but it set the tone for how Town wanted to defend off the ball.

Another free kick was awarded just inside the attacking half for Town after a foul on Jaheim Headley. Thomas stepped up and took the set piece directly into the box, but there was too much power behind it and despite Michał Helik getting his head to it, it went out for a Watford throw in.

There was a chance for Ben Jackson to open the scoring in the 28th minute after Yuta Nakayama outplayed his man and showed his strength before he played the ball to Wiles, who then sent a great ball across the field to Jackson’s feet. Jackson carried the ball to the box and shot, but the ‘keeper scooped up the ball, despite it going through the Watford defenders.

Headley did well on the wing and carried the ball into the midfield area just outside the box, where he sent the ball to Jackson on the edge, Jackson had his second chance within 10 minutes, but this was blocked and rebounded back to his feet. Playing on the right wing this afternoon, Jackson passed the ball short to Thomas, who’s shot from inside the box was saved at the near post by Bachmann.

Just before half-time, Nakayama regained possession on the side of the box with a great tackle and was then fouled by Yáser Asprilla, who he had just stolen the ball from.

After a strong first half for Town and two minutes added at the end of the first 45 minutes, we went into the break all square.

Our visitors started the second half quickly with a fast shot from Asprilla the opening minute of the restart, who forced Lee Nicholls to push the ball around the post and out for a corner, which was dealt with well by Town and didn’t amount to anything.

Pearson dealt with Sema’s attack well as he put his foot in to take the ball on the byline, Town were then awarded a free kick as Sema held back the defender as he tried to clear the ball from the dangerous area.

Watford went close to taking the lead in the 62nd minute as Jamal Lowe shot from just inside the box, but this was fired straight at Jackson and cleared. Helik was forced to make another block just a minute later and denied our visitors the chance to open the scoreline.

This was shortly followed by a chance for our Terriers on the counter-attack after great play from Headley down the left, he squared the ball to Wiles just outside the box but this shot went high and over the bar from range.

A burst of energy from both sides as Watford went back on the attack in the 65th minute, Lowe had another shot on target from close range, but this was saved by Nicholls as he kept the score level.

Ismaël Koné, a second half substitute for Watford, fancied his chances from range and shot from outside the box, but this went high and over Nicholls’ goal.

Town were awarded a free kick after another foul on Headley just inside the attacking half, Thomas sent the ball straight into the box and found the head of Pearson, but this went wide of the net.

The Hornets were then awarded a free kick of their own, closer to their target, Sema stepped up and found the head of Francisco Sierralta, but this went wide of Nicholls’ net.

Tom Lees produced a great defensive header to deny Watford the winning goal in the final moments of added time.

Despite seven minutes being added to the end of the game, it finished 0-0 in this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Watford.

Town's Team (3-4-3)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik (c), Tom Lees; Ben Jackson, Ben Wiles, Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Josh Ruffels, 87'), Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas, Kyle Hudlin (Brahima Diarra, 73'), Jaheim Headley

Unused Subs
Chris Maxwell, Josh Austerfield, Luke Daley, Tom Iorpenda

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