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Match Previews

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN PREVIEW

20 April 2022

Match Previews

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN PREVIEW

20 April 2022

The Reds return to Sky Bet Championship action on Friday evening with a local trip to West Yorkshire to face the Terriers.

With Barnsley's second tier survival hopes all but extinguished after a disappointing Easter weekend, there's still pride and Yorkshire bragging rights to play for when we head across to Kirklees to take on the high-flying Terriers in a 7.45pm kick-off on Friday night.

Good Friday's point picked up in Wales against Swansea City wasn't enough in the circumstances, while Easter Monday's defeat against fellow strugglers Peterborough United has left us hoping for a miracle. 

There are, of course, 12 points still up for grabs. But sitting 11 points adrift of safety means there is absolutely no margin for error now. Barnsley must win their four remaining fixtures, and hope that Reading lose all three of their matches. 

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Those poor results over the holiday period were just the latest examples of exactly why the Reds are staring at another relegation. In both games, Poya Asbaghi's side conjured up chance after chance, but time and again, they passed those opportunities up. 

Against Posh on Monday in particular, it's difficult to see how the Reds lost that game 2-0. It was there for the taking. And Barnsley kicked off the game like a house on fire. But yet again, they failed to find the target and were duly punished when the visitors found their own attacking feet.

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Both the half and full time whistles were met by a chorus of boos from the Oakwell crowd, as the likelihood of another 'great escape' quickly diminished. 

And so it's on to the John Smith's Stadium this Friday night for a derby clash with a local rival whose own eyes are set firmly on a return to the Premier League.

Still led by Carlos Corberan, the Terriers have plugged away all season and since the turn of the year, they've been in outstandingly consistent form. 

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They've lost just two of their last 23 league fixtures. 

It's still possible for them to pip Bournemouth to the second automatic promotion spot, but four points difference makes that look unlikely. 

However, even a solitary point against the Reds on Friday will seal their play-off place, whilst also signalling Barnsley's relegation. 

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Veteran striker Danny Ward, in his second spell with Huddersfield is enjoying a rejuvenated campaign, bagging 13 goals for the Terriers so far.

In midfield, the evergreen Jonathan Hogg has now played more than 300 games in West Yorkshire, and for the last couple of years, alongside talented young playmaker Lewis O'Brien. 

In a similar vein to the Reds side of last season, Town have assembled a real team. They know their roles, they have a set way of playing regardless of opposition and that unity and clarity sees them tussling for another top flight promotion. 

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In our most recent encounter, at the same venue back in January's Emirates FA Cup fourth round tie, the Reds put up a decent enough showing and were unlucky to lose on the day, 1-0 thanks to a first half Duane Holmes strike. 

Last season at the JSS, the Reds were the 1-0 winners, thanks to Daryl Dike's second half bicycle kick, with both sides - like this term - having very different campaigns. 

The man in the middle this Friday night is James Linington. The Welshman has already overseen two Reds fixtures this season. 

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A 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth back in September and then our 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough at Oakwell a couple of months ago. 

With the fixture being broadcast by Sky Sports, there are no video passes via iFollow Barnsley. 

But audio commentary is available with Matt Bailey and Callum Cooper on the mic from 7.35pm.

For further information on iFollow for this season, and how to activate seasonal subscriptions, please click the link below. 

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