Huddersfield Town News 24/7 

A look at Huddersfield Town's fixtures: 2021/22

24/06/2021

Fixture release day, one of the most anticipated days in the football calendar. Depending on how the fixtures fall, they can really affect a team's season. Part of Town's survival in the first season in the Premier League came from a perceived 'easier' start facing none of the 'big 6' in their opening 6 games compared with their second season where they faced 2 of the 'big 6' in their opening 6 fixtures.
Town start off their season on the 7th August with a trip to Pride Park as they face Derby County, but pending a potential EFL appeal, this could change to Wycombe. This would happen if a point deduction is sanctioned against Derby for their financial breaches, therefore Wycombe would be reinstated in the Sky Bet Championship and Derby would be relegated. This however is deemed unlikely. Their first home game is on August 14th as they face newly relegated Fulham, followed by another home game against Preston North End. Town then travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United, before returning home to face Reading and then a trip to Stoke to complete their first six fixtures. Two relegated sides in their first six games could easily set Town off on the wrong foot, so it is key that they pick up points on the opening day.

Opening day success?

Town have lost their last three opening day fixtures, although you have to go back to 2015 for the last time they lost an opening day fixture away, albeit Town have only played away once on the opening day since. Since Town was promoted to the championship in 2012, Town has only won twice on the opening day losing the other 7 and only scoring in 3 of those games. So I don't think it can be said that opening day success is anywhere near a guarantee.

Fixture Congestion

Town played 15-midweek games last season, compared with a provisional 11-midweek games this season. Even though Town play only 4 fewer midweek games this season, it will still give them more recovery between games, something that seemed to affect Town more than other teams given their style of play.
Another point worth noting here is the season start and end dates. This season will end one day earlier than last, but starts 37 days earlier, meaning Town played a league game every 5.20 days last season, compared with a game every 5.96 days this season. Again, this may not seem as much of a benefit, but it gives the players more rest between games and also gives Carlos more time on the training ground to work with the players.
Notably, Town played 8 fixtures in December 2020, compared with 5 this December, when if you look back over previous campaigns, Town have struggled with games in close proximity, and during December. So hopefully this should help Town.

Notable fixtures

Town plays at Derby on the opening day, with their first home game being against Fulham. Town return to Blackpool for the first time in over 6 years on September 14th 2021 (Matchday 7), but on a Tuesday night... but let's hope this time the Blackpool fans don't run on the pitch at halftime and get the game abandoned. Town then reignites their rivalry with Peterborough again on a Tuesday on November 2nd 2021 (Matchday 16) and again away. (We must say thank you to the EFL for being so considerate when deciding the fixtures.)
Over the festive period, Town takes on Blackpool on Boxing day (Matchday 24) and Blackburn on New Year's day (Matchday 26). Town makes its first trip to the Ricoh arena on April 30th 2022 (Matchday 45), when they face Coventry City before Town then face Bristol City at home on May 7th 2022, to finish off their regular campaign. In the cicumstances Town play in the play-offs, the season would end on the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
Town kick-off their Carabao Cup campaign on the week commencing the 9th August 2021 away to Sheffield Wednesday.