PREVIEW: BIRMINGHAM CITY (A)

2 October 2023

A full in-depth preview of Huddersfield Town’s next Sky Bet Championship opponent.

- Birmingham City vs Huddersfield Town
- Tuesday 3 October 2023, 7.45pm kick-off
- A look at what we can expect from our opposition

Town take their five-match unbeaten streak into a game in England’s second city on Tuesday evening, traveling to St. Andrew’s to take on hosts Birmingham City.

Having started the season like a house on fire, the Blues will be looking to get back to winning ways themselves on home soil and cement their place in the top half of the Sky Bet Championship.

This will be the penultimate game of the current set of fixtures before the October international break, with Town looking for a first win under new boss Darren Moore after two encouraging draws to start his tenure.

THE OPPOSITION

Much like Town, our midweek hosts come into the season under new American ownership. Whereas Kevin Nagle completed his takeover the Terriers, it was Tom Wagner’s Shelby Companies Ltd that took over at St. Andrew’s in July.

They came into the season with real momentum. After an opening day draw at Swansea City, the Blues won their next four games against Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup and Leeds United, Bristol City, and Plymouth Argyle in the Championship to be amid the front-runners in the division.

They lost to Cardiff City in the next stage of the Carabao Cup; one of four defeats and two draws in their last six games coming into Tuesday’s fixture.

THEIR MANAGER

John Eustace 16_9.jpg

John Eustace succeeded Lee Bowyer as manager at Birmingham City in July 2022, having previously managed Kidderminster Harriers and been on the coaching staff at Queens Park Rangers and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Prior to hanging up his boots, he was a talented central midfield player for the likes of Watford, Coventry City, Stoke City and Derby County.

His first victory as Blues manager came at home to Town in August 2022 and he eventually led City to a comfortable 17th placed finish in the division, level on points with the Terriers but with a superior goal difference.

LAST TIME OUT

Birmingham City lost 2-0 at Norwich City on Saturday, with quickfire goals from Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe in three second half minutes condemning them to defeat.

Koji Miyoshi came closest to getting Birmingham back in the game when he hit the crossbar in reply, but that defeat pushed the side back down to 12th in the table.

Boss John Eustace told BBC WM:

"We had a chance to go one up after the break before they had scored and then the manner with which we conceded the two goals was very disappointing.

"But nobody misses chances on purpose and we just have to keep on believing.

"We didn't deserve to lose at Watford and Preston and should have beaten QPR in our last home game.

"We were up against a top team, with top players, who will probably finish in the top two or three this season and that needs to be taken into account."

FORMATION

Eustace has deployed his side in a 4-2-3-1 shape this season, shuffling his pack slightly of late to cover for several injuries.

An injury to left back David Buchanan led to a chance for Emmanuel Longelo to play on Saturday, whilst the sitting midfield duo of Krystian Bielik and Ivan Šunjić allowing the attacking quartet ahead of them to test the opposition.

Fulham loanee Jay Stansfield has played through the middle for the majority of the season but played on the left wing to start Saturday’s game. Myoshi and Oliver Burke completed that trio behind striker Scott Hogan.

Last league starting XI (4-2-3-1):
John Ruddy; Cody Drameh, Dion Sanderson, Kevin Long, Emmanuel Longelo; Krystian Bielik, Ivan Šunjić; Oliver Burke, Koji Miyoshi, Jay Stansfield; Scott Hogan

WHO TO WATCH

Kevin Long

Now 33, centre back Long has played every second of Sky Bet Championship action for the Blues so far this season.

Born in Cork, the Republic of Ireland international started his career with Cork City before moving to England to join Burnley in 2010. He made over 70 appearances for the Clarets over the next 13 years, spending a lot of time out on loans with the likes of Accrington Stanley, Rochdale, Portsmouth, Barnsley, and Milton Keynes Dons.

He moved to St. Andrew’s in January 2023 and signed a new contract in the summer.

Krystian Bielik

Poland international Bielik finally joined Birmingham City on a permanent basis in 2023, having previously enjoyed two spells on loan at the club.

A holding midfielder who can play at centre back, he moved to England to join Arsenal in 2015, having started his career in his native land with Legia Warsaw. He never made a Premier League appearance for the Gunners, however, instead spending time on loan at Birmingham, Walsall and Charlton Athletic.

He joined Derby County permanently in 2019, but suffered two serious knee injuries that kept him sidelined for some time during his time at the Rams.

Following their relegation, he joined Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee this summer.

Jay Stansfield

England Under-20 international Stansfield joined the club on a season-long loan from Premier League team Fulham in the summer, amid much interest from many other Sky Bet Championship clubs.

He started his career in Exeter City’s Academy but was snapped up by Fulham as a 16-year-old. He’s made a handful of appearances for his parent club, but most of his football came on loan at his old club Exeter last season, excelling in League One.

He’s capable of playing up front or in any of the three positions behind the main forward.

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Town Manager Darren Moore discussed our team news at his pre-match press conference, which you can see below on HTTV!

KIT

The Terriers will be in their acid lime away kit on Tuesday night – click HERE to buy yours online now!

TICKET NEWS

For full ticket news, please CLICK HERE!

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend the game on Tuesday evening, you can watch and listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

A single match pass for the games is just £10, and supporters will be able to stream the full 90 minutes of action for that price.

Town fans will also be able to listen to the game through our live audio commentary by purchasing either a Monthly or an Audio Match Pass to tune in live. 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!

Match Reports

REPORT: BIRMINGHAM CITY 4-1 TOWN

3 October 2023

Town undone on the road by two goals in each half

- Birmingham City 4-1 Huddersfield Town
- Michal Helik scored late consolation deep into second half
- First defeat as Town Manager for Darren Moore

Town fell to a first defeat in six games on Tuesday evening, with hosts Birmingham City putting four past us amid a late consolation goal from Michał Helik.

The Terriers were below the standards they had set themselves in the first two games under Darren Moore and gave themselves a mountain to climb by conceding early goals at St. Andrew’s.

Town boss Moore made two changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town at the weekend, with the injured Jonathan Hogg replaced by Tom Lees – his first start of the season following injury – and Ben Jackson replacing Josh Koroma. That saw Yuta Nakayama move into holding midfield – a position he has played for Japan – and Sorba Thomas join Delano Burgzorg up front.

Sadly, the men in acid lime fell behind inside three minutes in unusual circumstances. A shot from range from attacker Siriki Dembele seemed to deceive Lee Nicholls in the air, with the goalkeeper unable to get enough on the ball with his attempted save to keep it out.

The Town players gathered themselves and went close to an equaliser barely three minutes later when Burgzorg collected a pass to the left of goal, span and sent a deflected shot goalwards that John Ruddy had to athletically turn over his crossbar.

Dembele was a constant thorn in our side all half and had two more shots in the opening 45 from a similar position, sending both efforts from the right side of Nicholls’ goal – the area Koroma likes to try his luck from regularly – just wide of target.

However, it was his Japanese teammate Koji Myoshi who made it two midway through the half. Right back Cody Drameh collected the ball just outside the box and sent a bouncing cross-come-shot towards the back post, where Myoshi was the most alert to turn the ball home from close range.

Although not hitting their fluent best in the half, Town did have attempts in reply. The next came in the 27th minute when Thomas passed across the face of the box to Ben Wiles, who tested Ruddy again with a powerful low shot that needed saving.

Burgzorg fired wide from 25 yards at one end whilst former Town man Juninho Bacuna had two shots at the other end: the first a flick straight at Nicholls and the second blocked expertly by Lees.

The lively Burgzorg then setup Jack Rudoni for a late chance after advancing infield from by the right corner flag, but Jack’s first-time effort went well wide.

Moore tried to inject new energy into the side during the interval by bringing on three substitutes as Josh Ruffels, Ben Wiles and Delano Burgzorg made way for Jaheim Headley, Brahima Diarra and Josh Koroma. While the changes were tactical in nature, Ben Wiles had looked to be nursing a knock to his leg throughout the first half.

Showing a slight response after the break and changes, Town’s first chance fell to Michal Helik, to headed back across toward goal with a looping header following a deep corner, but Ruddy was well positioned and able to leap highest to pluck it out of the air with relative ease.

However, it wasn’t long before Siriki Dembele was causing further issues for the Terriers, with Matty Pearson booked for a foul on the attacker moments before he let off another dangerous strike from just at the edge of the box, with Tom Lees throwing himself at the ball to get in a telling block.

Forcing the issue in possession and therefore unable to take control of the ball as they might otherwise, Birmingham were able to capitalise on a challenge by Juninho Bacuna on the wing who dispossessed Jaheim Headley, working the ball quickly into Miyoshi who was able to draw in his final man before sliding in Dembele in space. Taking the effort first time with his right boot, the forward’s first time finish was too strong for Nicholls and the game was effectively put beyond Town.

An excellent Sorba Thomas cross on the half volley gave Jack Rudoni the chance to nod Town back in with a slight chance of getting something upon the restart, but he tamely headed wide.

Sub Tom Edwards then volleyed over on the turn when well positioned after another excellent delivery into the box from Thomas, this time from a wide free kick.

Edwards was involved in a physical, irate battle with Bacuna as soon as he came on, but the pair soon worked in tandem to report an alleged incident of racist abuse from a home area. We will continue to offer every support we can to Birmingham City in trying to identify the perpetrator, as racism has absolutely no place in football or society.

Town did get on the score sheet in added time when Helik notched his third of the season. Thomas was again involved, working a short corner before firing the ball across the face of goal on his left to let our central defender tap home.

However, the final goal of the night went Birmingham’s way when substitute James took aim and beat Nicholls with a powerful, accurate low drive from 25 yards out.

Town’s team (3-5-2)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik (c), Tom Lees (Kian Harratt, 71’); Ben Jackson (Tom Edwards, 61’), Jack Rudoni, Yuta Nakayama, Ben Wiles (Brahima Diarra, 46’), Josh Ruffels (Jaheim Headley, 46’); Sorba Thomas, Delano Burgzorg (Josh Koroma, 46’)

Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Pat Jones, Kyle Hudlin

Town goal
Michal Helik (90+2’)

Town booking
Matty Pearson (55’)