PREVIEW: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (A)

4 October 2023

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

- Sheffield Wednesday vs Huddersfield Town
- Saturday 7 October 2023, 3pm kick-off
- An in depth look at what can be expected from our next opponents

First contested in September 1926, there have been 63 official meetings between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday to date, with the Terriers 27 victories in that time giving us the historical edge.

With the 64th and latest meeting scheduled this Saturday 7 October at Hillsborough, it’s the first time the Club’s have met since the very beginning of the 2021/22 campaign, with Town winning a Carabao Cup tie on penalties thanks to some Lee Nicholls heroics in the shootout.

Between a sold out Town away end and the first meeting between our Manager Darren Moore and his former side after they parted ways in the summer, there aren’t a shortage of stories heading into Saturday’s derby.

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THE OPPOSITION

Just over 24 miles separate the John Smith’s Stadium and Hillsborough, with Town and Wednesday enjoying an intense Yorkshire rivalry over the years. Play-Off encounters have only added to these occasions, with the penalty shootout win back in 2017 for the Terriers across Penistone in Sheffield living long in the memory.

Seven years on, much has changed. Coming close to their own Premier League promotion but missing out at the final hurdle, Wednesday were then relegated from the Sky Bet Championship at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, spending two seasons in Sky Bet League One before coming back up in dramatic fashion via the Play-Offs under current Town Manager Darren Moore.

THEIR MANAGER

Joining as Head Coach in July 2023, the Spanish Head Coach has previously spent time in charge of Pobla Mafumet, Dinamo Tblisi, Watford, Huesca, and Anorthosis before landing in South Yorkshire.

Still a younger coach at 43, Munoz enjoyed a decorated playing career before hanging his boots up to move onto the touchline. Still looking for his first competitive win as Wednesday boss in the Sky Bet Championship with two draws and eight losses in his opening 10 league games, Munoz’ only win to date came in the First Round of the Carabao Cup on penalties against Stockport County at Hillsborough.

Update: Since the match preview was published, Sheffield Wednesday and Xisco Munoz have parted company.

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LAST TIME OUT

Wednesday were also in action in the Midlands in midweek, travelling to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 3 October. An early goal from John Swift was ultimately the difference, with Munoz’ side unable to level.

Previous Starting XI: Vasquez; Famewo, Bernard, Iorfa, Palmer; Musaba, Vaulks, Bakinson, Delgado; Fletcher, Smith (4-4-2)

FORMATION

Changing between different shapes, the Owls have experimented with five different systems in their opening 10 Sky Bet Championship fixtures of the season.

Opening the campaign in a 4-2-3-1, they moved away from four at the back for the following six matches, adjusting between a 5-4-1, 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3, with both of their draws coming whilst within these shapes. Returning to a four at the back against West Brom on Tuesday evening, they operated with a traditional 4-4-2 as they played with two recognised centre forwards.

Having shown the ability to adjust between shapes, how they line-up against Town may depend on the fitness of Barry Bannan and Josh Windass, who have been missing in recent weeks.

WHO TO WATCH

Juan Delgado

Chilean winger Delgado made the move to Wednesday from Portuguese club Paços Ferreira in the summer, scoring once in 10 appearances so far. A regular starter, he has operated as both wing back and within a front three, hugging the touchline and using his pace and trickery to give his side an outlet when needed. With a career spanning South and Central America before moving to Europe, he has played over 300 career games, with 15 caps for his country and one international goal.

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Ashley Fletcher

Signed on loan in the summer from fellow Sky Bet Championship side Watford, the forward may still be looking for his first goal of the season, but that doesn’t remove from his other uses in the final third. A focal point of attacks thanks to his size, Fletcher has been able to bring others into play around him and unsettle defences with his work rate and movement. 23 goals and 12 assists in 144 games at this level to date doesn’t tell the full story, with a goal against Town in 2021 for Middlesbrough enough of a warning that he can be dangerous if allowed to the opportunity.

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Anthony Musaba

Dutch winger Musaba joined Wednesday on a free transfer from Monaco in the summer of 2023, playing predominantly from the right wing despite being comfortable with either foot. Already off the mark having scored against Middlesbrough in their 1-1 draw, he also netted in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup against Mansfield before losing on penalties. Installing himself as a go-to option in the final third for Wednesday, his guile on the wing causes issues in wide areas for defences, and is definitely one of their most dangerous players.

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TOWN TEAM NEWS

Town Manager Darren Moore is due to speak to the press in the afternoon of Thursday 5 October 2023 from the Millers Oils High Performance Complex, so supporters can look to HTTV and HTAFC Sounds for full coverage of his comments!

Darren Moore post-Birmingham .jpg

KIT

We our back in our Acid Lime away kit for Saturday’s trip to Hillsborough!

CLICK HERE to make one your own before our trip past Penistone this weekend.

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TICKET NEWS

Having sold out our initial allocation, further tickets have been made available for sale. CLICK HERE for full ticket information, and thank you for your incredible support!

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Supporters will be able to listen along live to the game at Hillsborough with iFollow HTAFC!

CLICK HERE to purchase your match pass and keep up-to-date with every kick.

Match Reports

REPORT: SHEFF WED 0-0 TOWN

7 October 2023

A draw in the final game before the break.

- Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town
- Goalless draw at Hillsborough in Yorkshire derby
- Kian Harratt has a late strike disallowed for a foul

Town enter the October international break on back of a third draw in four games, with a Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday ending goalless.

The tie against the Owls, who sacked their manager in midweek and were under the caretaker charge of Neil Thompson, was the final game before an important two weeks on the training pitches for Darren Moore and his coaches.

The game had few genuine chances, with Josh Koroma having the first-half’s best chance before Callum Paterson volleyed wide for the hosts at the other end.

However, the game’s big moment was a late goal for substitute Kian Harratt that was ruled out for an apparent foul on the home goalkeeper.

Moore made three changes for his return to South Yorkshire, one of which saw skipper Jonathan Hogg return following a one game absence with a calf injury. He joined Tom Edwards and Josh Koroma back in the side, with Sorba Thomas moving infield to play behind our front two.

With nearly 3,000 Town fans behind them, the men in acid lime had to defend well in the early stages as Wednesday utilised a physical front two of Lee Gregory and Michael Smith at every opportunity, with one fourth minute knockdown leading to a half chance for George Byers to shoot from outside the box.

As well as being a threat from corners, Wednesday also had a long throw at their disposal through Will Vaulks. Lee Nicholls combatted that by being positive, twice coming through a crowded box to punch the ball clear early on.

Town’s first chance came in the 13th minute when opposite goalkeeper Cameron Dawson had less success with a punch, only succeeding in pushing the ball down to Koroma around 25 yards out. He tried to lob the ball into the vacant net with a first-time effort but sent his effort bouncing just wide of the post.

The Terriers enjoyed a lot of territorial pressure thereafter, winning several free kicks around the edge of the home penalty area. Unfortunately, they were defended by the Owls, with a direct Jack Rudoni effort hitting the top of the ball and a couple of headers being blocked wide.

Delano Burgzorg’s best moment of the half came around the 20-minute mark when he showed good feet to keep the ball with defenders around him before making a run into the box to collect the next pass. He pulled the ball back to Koroma, who span neatly only to see his left footed shot blocked.

Rudoni made two very positive dribbles through the centre of the pitch in the first half, taking opponents out of the game, and from one he found Thomas with a pass across the face of the box. Unfortunately, Sorba got his shot from 20 yards out all wrong, sending a tame effort comfortably wide of target.

Wednesday came back into the game as the half ended and Nicholls will have head his heart in his mouth three minutes before the interval when Gregory charged his attempted clearance down, but thankfully the ball bounced wide for a goal kick.

The half’s final chance fell Town’s way when a foul on Yuta Nakayama on the left gave Thomas the chance to deliver. His cross to the back post was exceptional, but Helik could only hook the ball over at full stretch.

The second half mirrored the first in many ways, with only half chances at either end.

Burgzorg soon went down under a challenge from a centre back when approaching a bouncing ball on the edge of Wednesday’s area, but no free kick was awarded, then at the other end a Will Vaulks free kick bounced in the six-yard box without getting a touch.

Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest chance of the game fell to Callum Paterson in the 64th minute when centre back Bernard nodded down a corner into the area, but the former Cardiff City volleyed powerfully wide on the turn.

Helik dragged a speculative shot wide before Thomas uncharacteristically got two attempted crosses wrong as the Terriers broke effectively down the right flank.

In the end, the last meaningful action of the game was probably the biggest talking point. Substitute Brahima Diarra was brought down on the right after a smart turn, giving Thomas the chance to delivery another free kick. The delivery hit a defender and looped into the air and when goalkeeper Dawson and Tom Lees challenged, the ‘keeper’s punch fell to Kian Harratt – who volleyed into the net. Unfortunately, referee Donohue had already whistled for a foul on the custodian that looked soft.

Town’s team (3-4-1-2)
Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Josh Ruffels (Tom Lees, 62’); Tom Edwards (Ben Wiles, 67’), Jonathan Hogg, Jack Rudoni, Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas; Delano Burgzorg (Brahima Diarra, 83’), Josh Koroma (Kian Harratt, 67’)

Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jaheim Headley, Kyle Hudlin, Ben Jackson

Town booking
Jonathan Hogg (90+6’)

Gate
26,025

Town fans
2,971

Get your ticket for our first game after the international break at home to QPR on Saturday 21 October - click HERE to buy online now!