Town’s preparations take them to Bramall Lane
Huddersfield Town’s First Team will make the short journey south on Tuesday evening to play League 1 Sheffield United in a pre-season friendly.
The Terriers suffered the first blip of their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a one goal defeat at Scunthorpe (click HERE to view the highlights).
Four wins had preceded the defeat against AEL Limassol, Doncaster Rovers, SC Portimonense and Guiseley.
The Blades recorded the first win of their pre-season campaign over the weekend with a 4-2 success vs Dundee. Chris Basham and Marc Mculty netted on debut for the south Yorkshire side, whilst Jamie Murphy and Jose Baxter were also on the score sheet.
Prior to the win, former Terrier Andy Butler had scored in a 1-1 draw against Northampton Town, whilst in their first outing United suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Burton Albion.
Butler joined from Walsall in the closed season in one of six free transfer signings by Nigel Clough. Clough also signed Derby’s Ben Davies, Blackpool’s Basham and Harrison McGahey, Notts County’s Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Peterborough’s Craig Alcock.
Four have departed so far in Fabian Brandy, Lyle Taylor, Sean McGinty and Shaun Miller; however it will be the loss of central defender Harry Maguire that will hurt Blades fans the most.
United’s talented Academy graduate looks set for the exit door with Hull City the likely destination at this moment in time.
It will also be a blow to Clough who turned around the fortunes of United when he took charge in October of last year. David Weir had previously struggled to get the Blades going and departed with just three months of the season gone. Clough transformed the Blades from strugglers to promotion chasers – and in the end he only just missed out on a Play-Off place. They did reach the semi-final of the FA Cup though, and in honour of the achievement he was named FA Cup Manager of the Season by the League Managers Association in May.
He has won 22 of his 41 matches in charge of the Blades and if he can keep up his win percentage of 53.66%, Sheffield United will almost certainly be in the mix for promotion.
It is over two years since the two sides last met, but for many Town fans the Wembley memory is still fresh in the minds. Alex Smithies’ winning penalty condemned United to another year in League 1, whilst Town were up into the second flight.
During that season, both teams picked up three points from one another. Lee Novak scored a brace in a 3-0 victory for the Terriers at Bramall Lane, whilst Neill Collins’ fifth minute header was enough for the win in Huddersfield.
Town fans can purchase a ticket for the 7.45pm kick-off at Bramall Lane by calling 01484 484 123 or by clicking HERE.
If you can’t make it to the match, follow the action live on Town’s twitter feed @htafcdotcom
