PREVIEW: LEEDS UNITED (A)

26 October 2023

An in-depth look ahead at our opponents in the upcoming West Yorkshire Derby

- Leeds United vs Huddersfield Town
- Saturday 28 October; 12.30pm kick-off at Elland Road
- First meeting between sides since 202

For the first time in over three years, the Terriers will make the short trip eastbound on the M62 to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the West Yorkshire Derby.

Leeds had the better of the previous two fixtures in the 2019/20 campaign, winning both two goals to nil as they secured automatic promotion. Town had won the previous three meetings before that season, with the Terriers also ahead historically with 32 wins to their 29, having drawn 19 times.

There are just 13.5 miles between the John Smith’s Stadium and Elland Road, with over 3,000 Town supporters set to fill a sold out away end in Beeston as both Darren Moore and Daniel Farke oversee their first derby in charge at their new side.

THE OPPOSITION

Having spent three seasons in the Premier League after promotion in 2020, a 19th placed finish last season confirmed Leeds’ return to the Sky Bet Championship.

Undergoing a change of ownership and management in the summer, former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke was installed as they underwent major changes to their playing squad. With a total of 25 players leaving either permanently or on loan, eight permanent signings were introduced as well as three new faces on loan.

Currently in third place, Leeds are nine points shy of the automatic promotion places as they look for an immediate return to the top flight. Undefeated at home this season in six games, they drew their opening three fixtures at Elland Road before stringing together a series of wins.

THEIR MANAGER

Making his name at Norwich City after leaving Borussia Dortmund II, the 46-year-old German coach spent four years in Norfolk, winning the Sky Bet Championship twice despite being unable to keep his side within the Premier League on each occasion.

A brief stint in Russia with Krasnodar followed before he returned to German football with Borussia Monchengladbach for a year prior to joining Leeds United in the summer on a four-year contract.

Starting life in West Yorkshire well, Farke has won seven of his first 15 matches at the helm, drawing and losing four each in all competitions. Having faced Town twice before, he won both of those encounters during his time with Norwich.

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LAST TIME OUT

Having won three games on the trot, that good run of form came to an end against Stoke City on Wednesday evening.

Despite having a penalty to go ahead late on in the final quarter of the match, Bamford missed the spot kick minutes before a Pascal Struijk own goal sealed a one nil loss.

Having enjoyed more of the ball and more shots on goal, it was only their third loss of the campaign after defeats on the road at both Birmingham City and Southampton.

Previous Starting XI: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu, Gruev; Gnoto, Piroe, Anthony; Rutter

FORMATION

A devotee of the 4-2-3-1 formation throughout his career, it’s no surprise that Leeds have lined up that way in 13 of their 15 games under Farke so far. Their only deviations have been variations of the same principle, playing 4-4-2 twice to great effect in a win away at Ipswich Town and a draw away to Hull City.

Providing a solid midfield base in front of the back four, the system gives Leeds the ability to play four attacking players in the final third. With one forward leading the line, he is supported by two wingers - often inverted - and a number 10 that pushes forward and plays as a supporting striker.

A balanced system, Leeds are able to both sit deep in defence whilst being primed to break whilst also having the confidence to commit men forward and push their full-backs higher should they be in charge of the game.

WHO TO WATCH

Ethan Ampadu

Signed permanently in the summer from Chelsea, the Welsh international midfielder has quickly become a fan favourite for his new side. Having made a move from Exeter City to West London in 2017, he has been on a series of loan moves for the majority of his time with the Blues, only making 12 appearances in all competitions for his former side before leaving.

Having already played more for Leeds than he did for Chelsea, he has settled in a holding midfield role sitting ahead of the defence. Their chief ball-winning midfielder, Ampadu has 46 appearances for Wales to his name at only 23-years-old, with a maturity beyond his years.

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Georginio Rutter

Arriving in January 2023 while Leeds were in the Premier League for a club record £35.5m transfer fee from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, the 21-year-old forward failed to score in 11 top flight appearances as his side were relegated.

Rutter has hit the ground running in the Sky Bet Championship this season, though, scoring two and assisting four more goals in 12 appearances. Rotating between the lone striker position and playing behind in a supporting role, his movement and relationship with Joel Piroe has been a huge asset for Leeds in their strong start under Farke.

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Joel Piroe

No stranger to the Sky Bet Championship after making the move from PSV to Swansea City in 2021, he joined Leeds in the summer of 2023 for a significant transfer fee after scoring 46 times in 96 appearances for the side from South Wales.

24-year-old Piroe has made a similarly prolific start to life at Leeds, netting five times in 10 games. Having represented the Netherlands at youth team level, he’s yet to receive a call-up for the senior side. With one goal in four appearances against Town to date, that came in his very first game against us for Swansea in 2021.

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TOWN TEAM NEWS

With a midweek game against Cardiff City to take into account, Darren Moore will provide a full update on the availability of his team when he speaks to the media from the Millers Oils High Performance Complex on Friday 27 October 2023.

KIT

We will be back in our black third kit for the trip to Elland Road!

Having been previously worn in the Midlands for our late draw with Coventry City, supporters can still get their hands on our Utilita Giving sponsored strip.

CLICK HERE to make one your own from the Town Shop online, or visit us in store at the John Smith’s Stadium!

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TICKET NEWS

All tickets for this fixture have sold out - thank you for your incredible support!

Supporters without tickets shouldn’t make the trip to Elland Road, with no seats remaining and therefore no pay on the day in place.

For more ticket information, CLICK HERE.

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iFOLLOW HTAFC

Supporters are able to follow every kick from Beeston via iFollow HTAFC, with audio match passes available by CLICKING HERE.

Match Video passes are also available for the 12.30pm kick-off, CLICK HERE to purchase your video pass now.

To find out more about iFollow, season passes and more, CLICK HERE.

Match Reports

REPORT: LEEDS 4-1 TOWN

28 October 2023

Terriers defeated in West Yorkshire derby

- Leeds United 4-1 Huddersfield Town
- Four first half goals for the hosts
- Michal Helik scores in the second half

Town were soundly defeated in the first West Yorkshire derby by Leeds United at Elland Road courtesy of four first-half goals from the hosts.

Michal Helik’s fourth of the season was no consolation for the Terriers or the 3,000 fans in the away end, with braces from wide forwards Crysencio Summerville and Dan James putting the game to bed.

Darren Moore changed the shape to a back four for the game, replacing the injured Jack Rudoni with Brahima Diarra and bringing in Tom Edwards and Tom Lees in defence.

The Terriers looked to play on the counter as the game began, engaging United’s players when they entered our defensive half.

The game was fairly even in the opening minutes, with James’ touch letting him down at the back post when well positioned to try his luck in the 5th minute before our first chance came. That was largely down to some impressive individual play from Delano Burgzorg, who received a pass from Hogg and advanced to the edge of the box before sending defender Pascal Struijk sprawling with quick feet, only to drag a left-footed shot just wide from 20 yards.

Leeds had the ball in the net a few minutes later when former Swansea man Joel Piroe knocked home a free kick that was played into the area, but the effort was rightly ruled out for offside.

At this point, the hosts started to take control – and the first goal followed in the 20th minute. It started with Town on the attack, but Edwards’ long throw was cleared to Georginio Rutter and he cleverly lobbed the ball into space for Crysencio Summerville to run onto. The winger drove infield before passing to James, who managed to squeeze a shot past Yuta Nakayama and inside the near post from just outside the area.

Town went fairly close to an immediate reply when a ball over the top from Sorba Thomas found Burgzorg. Shackleton tried to chest the ball down and Delano seized upon it, but centre back Joe Rodon got back to make an important last-ditch tackle inside his own area to stop the Dutchman volleying home.

Instead, it was Leeds who doubled their advantage in the 31st minute through Summerville. He cut inside Thomas and onto his left foot before sending a low shot goalwards; Helik couldn’t sort his feet to block and, with his frame obscuring Nicholls’ view, it rolled past everyone and into the net.

Leeds made it three just three minutes later, again on the counter-attack. Diarra’s pass for Harratt in the United area was cut out and the ball was quickly transferred to Summerville, who drifted infield and slipped a pass behind Nakayama for the pacey James to run on to before dispatching a finish past Nicholls inside the area.

Nicholls did pull off a fantastic save to deny Summerville after indecision from Wiles and Edwards was seized upon by Rutter, but the same player did get his second in first half added time. Rutter raced past Edwards on our right before cutting the ball back for the former Feyenoord man, who chopped back onto his left inside the area before finding the far corner.

Moore switched his side back to a defensive three for the second half, with Matty Pearson coming on to play at centre back and Ben Jackson on to play wing back.

The second half started in a quieter fashion, with the first genuine shot coming after the hour mark as Piroe hit a low drive wide of Nicholls’ left hand post from around 20 yards.

At the other end, Burgzorg’s pace got him the wrong side of former Town loanee Liam Cooper momentarily, but the referee wasn’t interested when he went down under the defender’s challenge as he tried to cut inside him in the penalty area.

Town did get a goal back through Helik’s fourth of the season with 20 minutes left. Town worked a corner short after good work from Bergzorg, giving Thomas the chance to fire goalwards from around 20 yards; his shot cannoned off the chest of goalkeeper Meslier and the Polish international reacted quickest, following in to place the ball home.

In the end, that didn’t matter in a heavy West Yorkshire derby defeat.

Town’s team (4-2-3-1)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Edwards (Matty Pearson, 46’), Michal Helik, Tom Lees, Yuta Nakayama; Jonathan Hogg (c), Brahima Diarra (Ben Jackson, 46’); Sorba Thomas, Ben Wiles, Delano Burgzorg; Kian Harratt

Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jaheim Headley, Kyle Hudlin, Josh Austerfield, Luke Daley, Tom Iorpenda

Town bookings
Jonathan Hogg (25’), Sorba Thomas (37’), Brahima Diarra (40’), Tom Lees (50’)

Gate
36,813