02/04/2021

Huddersfield Town vs Brentford

Competition: EFL Championship Matchday 39

Date: 03/04/2021

Ground: John Smith Stadium

After losing 4 in 5, Town are now unbeaten in 4, picking up 6 points from 12 and are set to play a Brentford side that are feeling the pressure of trying to clinch promotion to the Premier League. 1 win in 4 for the London club who will be wanting to build on their 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at their new ground. Ivan Toney is the man they will be turning to for a source of goals, already 28 goals this season and having provided a further 9 assists, it is looking certain that he will be the league player of the season so Town will be up against it to contain him.
It will be 17 days between when Town played Sheffield Wednesday and when Town will play Brentford, so that should have given Town (and their supporters) sufficient rest, which they haven’t really had all season. New signing Oumar Niasse is not available after picking up an injury.
The game gets underway at 12:30 on Saturday 3rd April and it is live on Sky Sports or fans are able to purchase a match pass on iFollow if they don’t have a season card.

Town's Internationals:

Juninho Bacuna played well on international duty, as the Curacao international scored a brace in a 5-0 thumping of Saint Vincent and Grenadines and then played a vital part of the 2-1 victory over Cuba. This means Guus Hiddink’s side sit top of their group in the North America World Cup qualifiers. Another Town player to play in the International break was Pipa, with Town’s right back making 2 starts and 1 sub appearance as Spain topped their Euro U21 group. Pipa played 225 minutes in those 3 games with Spain failing to concede a goal in that time. Patrick Jones was set to play for Wales U18s, but injury stopped Town’s 17-year-old winger from featuring.

Academy News:

Town’s U19s lost to Grimsby Town in the Northern semi-final of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup 2-1. Myles Bright was the scorer for Town, in what was a very strong Town side, which makes the result even more disappointing.
The academy news doesn’t get any more pleasant, with the B team, admittedly made up of U19s losing 3-2 in Penrith. Micah Obiero and Kit Elliott scored for Town but a brace from former Town man Cedwyn Scott a goal from Daniel Devine ensured victory for Carlisle.
The B team then went on to play away at Stockport County, a game in which Town spectacularly won 4-3. Kit Elliott, Ernaldo Krasniqi, Josh Austerfield and Sam Peplow scored for Town, while Aaron Pilkington was in on trial from Leeds United.

News on Ben Jackson's loan:

A player who has impressed me in pre-season was Ben Jackson, he made the huge step from youth football to be thrown in on the opening day of the season against arguably the best side in the division and he didn’t look out of place. Ben went on to make one further cup appearance before he was shipped out on loan to League 2 Bolton Wanderers. He performed well in his first 4 appearances, but he was then displaced from the side by the return of Declan John who is also on loan at the club. The Stockport born full-back has failed to make the last 5 matchday squads and it is down to Bolton boss Ian Evatt preferring to have attacking and versatile players on the bench so unfortunately, Jackson is finding it difficult to break back into the side.

Micah Obiero joins Halifax on loan:

Micah Obiero joins Halifax on loan as he tries to propel 'The Shaymen' into the play-off positions. Halifax currently sit 1 point and 1 place out of the National League play-offs and Micah will be hoping to build on his loan to Carlisle in the first half of the season where he scored 1 goal in 6 games.

Town Team News:

Rolando Aarons is continuing his road to recovery as he is now back training with the group, but it is doubtful that he will make the matchday squad. Josh Koroma seems a bit further behind Aarons, as he is only now back on the grass as he also continues his path to recovery.
Carel Eiting is continuing to get back up to match fitness. It is looking tight if the on-loan Ajax man will feature before the end of the season, but Town are remaining hopeful that Eiting will feature in some capacity.
Unfortunately, it is looking less likely that Town legend Christopher Schindler will play again for Town, the German defender’s knee injury is not recovering as Town were expecting. Rumour has it that 1. FC Nurnberg in Germany will sign Schindler on the expiry of his contract. I think this seems likely, since 1. FC Nurnberg is in Nuremberg which is in Bavaria and Chris had lived his life there up until he joined Town, so I think the move makes sense for him.
One positive is that Danny Ward is looking closer to match fitness, and he will need to be, considering new Town signing Oumar Niasse is injured. The new Town man picked a groin injury following a fall in a behind closed doors friendly. The extent is expected to found out on Monday following a scan.