[jjamez]

Friday sees town return to the sky cameras for another home game, this time coming against promotion chasing West Brom, the last time town appeared on the sky box, we would rather forget what happened...

The West Brom game will be the last time we see football being played on the John Smiths Turf this season, but hopefully it wont be the last time we see championship football being played on it, not that we have produced any championship quality football on it for a while or prolonged periods anyway. Our visitors on the other hand will be hoping it is the last time they play championship football in Huddersfield for a while, but more due to them leaving the league behind rather than us. It seems likely that WBA will be fighting it out with Brentford for the 2nd spot, with Leeds seemingly set for a return to the top flight, although I'm sure a lot of fans up and down the country would far rather see WBA and Brentford take the top spots, but I wouldn't bet on it.



Last time out both Huddersfield and WBA played out similar outcomes, goalless draws, the word goalless seems to sum Town up pretty aptly at the present moment, with the last goal coming in the win away at Birmingham, whilst the last goal from open play came against Charlton in the last home game before lockdown, or in other words, months ago. They say when defining players personalities as someone you'd want alongside you in the trenches, if i was a WBA player/fan I wouldn't be worried about sticking my head up to have a look, as with Town, none of the shots would hit.


see not even a scratch

West Brom on the other hand played out a goalless draw at home to fellow promotion chasers Fulham, and before that came a 1-1 draw away at Blackburn, although there would be a case for saying WBA should have taken more from the game, having failed to capitalise on their chances and kill the game off.

The last time the two sides met was back on the 22nd of September in what was one of the Cowley brothers first games in charge. Considering the shambles we had been served up during the early stages of the season, it came almost as a pleasant surprise when lewis O'brien gave town a 16th minute lead, but it came as little surprise when matt Phillips restored parity just minutes later. Another minor miracle occurred 10 minutes before the interval when karlan grant prodded town back ahead. The second half returned back to the town of Old, with Phillips notching his second, with furlong and ajayi sealing a 4-2 win. However, it was a battling performance that acted as a catalyst for what would be the best period of the campaign results wise for town.



As for our meetings in the Premier league, well it was town who held the bragging rights there. In the first meeting between the two sides, a rajiv van la parra wonder goal proved to be the difference at the John smiths stadium. Whilst the two sides were relegation battling when they met at the hawthorns, van la parra again scored for Town, with mounie notching the second, whilst Craig Dawson replied for the hosts, but it was town who left with the 3 points that day.



Manager speak

Cowley chat

bilic babble




Team news for Town seems to suggest that we have the full allotment of players to pick from minus the one long term absentee in Tommy elphick who is working alongside some of the younger players, offering advice as he arguably looks ahead to moving into coaching in the future.

For me the back 5 should be as you were from the Sheffield Wednesday game. I'm of the opinion that hogg and O'brien have to be the 2 holding midfielders at that this moment in time, I know a lot of fans don't like the idea but I dont see bacuna being disciplined enough to do it in a big game.

That being said, bacuna would be out on the right wing for me for his possible creativity, with Smith rowe and grant being the other two behind Campbell, who I think will be more useful up against the likes of hegazi who I feel might make mounie a bit redundant.

Last time out West brom lined up as follows

1 Johnstone
27 O'Shea
6 Ajayi
26 Hegazi
14 Townshend Booked at 86 mins
8 Livermore Booked at 55 mins
19 Sawyers
29 Diangana Substituted for Robinson at 85 minutes
12 Costa Pereira Booked at 50 mins Substituted for Krovinovic at 90+3 minutes
13 Grosicki Substituted for Phillip sat 45 minutes
15 Austin Substituted for Robson-Kanu at 66 minutes
Substitutes

2 Furlong
4 Robson-Kanu
5 Bartley
7 Krovinovic
10 Phillips
11 Brunt
16 Harper
23 Bond
47 Robinson

So it could see the return of huddersfields best friend Charlie austin, who always seems to either score or get up to mischief when he plays against us.



Players to watch

The highly rated grady Diangana is on loan from West ham and offers pace and trickery out on the flank, whilst fellow winger kamil Grosicki offers experience and skill on the other wing.

Behind the lone striker will be pereira who will need to be watched closely by hogg as he will unlock a defence in a moments notice, much like we thought Pritchard would.



West brom stats


• Slaven Bilić’s men have kept 14 clean sheets in the league this season, half of which have come in their last 11 league games.

• Albion have the best away record in the Championship, picking up 43 points on the road this season (P22, W12, D7, L3).

• The Baggies are unbeaten in five games (W3, D2, L0).

I'm sure our WBA following friends will be able to give their views on this afternoons games

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, jjamez.

Lockdown came at just the wrong time for our home form. The last two, Bristol City and Charlton were probably our best home performances of the season. How did we get from that to the Wigan, Preston and Luton performances?

[Lord Snooty]

Watched the win at West Brom in the Premier League highlights last night. Who made the difference again? Super Collin Quaner. Surely now is the time to throw the Hero of Hillsborough on from the start.
Kache and Willo haven't shone on the right wing. Get Collin in.

[theo_luddite]

jjamez. Loverlyjubbly thread for the last 'un at 'ome this season.

It's going to be an interesting last 2 games of the season.

At the risk of pointing out the bleedin' obvious, as it stands:

Wigan, if they lose the last two (unlikely) will be on 45 points potentially, but with a +1 GD only if they let a shed full of goals in or Hull and or Luton pick up points - well at least one of them will because they play each other tomorrow. If Wigan get one win, which is likely at Charlton then it's more than likely they'll survive and start on -12 next season.

Barnsalee have to beat Forest and Brentfud to survive - ain't gonna happen.

Luton & 'ull play each other, more than likely Luton will win that. 'ull threw the towel in back at the start of the year, possibly before but they beat QPR and Boro around New Years, since when they've only beaten Boro, again. Selling your two top scorers sends a message but they were 9th after beating Wendies. 'ull still have to play Cardiff. Cardiff need points off Boro and 'ull to fend off Meewaww (QPR and us) and Swansea (Brizzle and Reading), isn't it?

Luton are the form team down amongst the dead men since Nathan Jones took over again. They could easily survive and relegate a bigger name. They also have to play Blackburn who will possibly be heading for the beach, even if it's Morecambe Bay.

Charlton after Wigan are at L666s, don't see them getting a point from either tbh.

Town - need two draws to get the 50 points DC thinks we need. We've done it two seasons running. Can we make it 3 and even if we do will it be enough? The Baggies need points to avoid the play-offs, Meewaww (QPR away) are still chasing points and Cardiff's tail to get into them.

Brum - the most not in form side in the Chumpionship. 2 points from the last 6 games, 3 from the last 8. They last won in February. If they let one in it often becomes 3. They've got the 'required' 50 points, but their goal difference is one less than us. Away to an indifferent Both Ends and home to a disappointing Derby. Owt could 'appen. They might even get a win against one of those two.

Boro' (50) - can't win a home game under Colin, can't lose away from home since he came in. Home to Cardiff (Colin's previous club) and away to Wendies who are also facing a possible 9 point deduction that could leave them on 47 points. Wendies also way to Fulham who are secure in a play-off spot.

Stoke (50) - again, owt could 'appen with this lot. Home to Brentfud, away to Forest. Only Brentfud are consistent between the three of them. Boro and Stoke have better GD's than Town as it stands.

I don't do predictions me but I think that still leaves at least Barnsalee, Hull and Charlton below us.

Then again - this is the Chumpionship - owt can 'appen and it probably will.

[Lord Snooty]

Well if we win toneet, we're safe. End of...….. unless we have a Hull style collapse at Millwall.

If however, we lose and lose darn at the Den, we are cattle trucked. I think Luton will beat Hull tomorrow, then get at least a point ageean Blackburn. Charlton would only need a point to overtake us. They will almost certainly get one against Wigan and then up at Leeds, who will have switched off by then. Why wouldn't they do a favour for old boy Bowyer?

Quite frankly, if we're relying on others to keep us up, we don't deserve to stay up. It's in our own hands. We have two matches left and need three points for safety. Just do it.

And do it toneet!

[jjamez]

Don't forget Wigan will want as many points as possible to guarantee they stay up for next season.

They go down and the desirability of the club diminishes

[theo_luddite]

Two 90 mins like the first 45 for us at The Hawthorns please.

I like the Baggies and their fans but this is not the time to do them any favours. Sorry chaps, we need the the points more than you right now.

---

Don't forget Wigan will want as many points as possible to guarantee they stay up for next season.

They go down and the desirability of the club diminishes

The prick that bought them put them into admin straight away. Allegedly he has a big bet on them being relegated. I really don't give a stuff for pricks like him. If they are worthless after he's spent his millions buying them, it's his own fault.

[Lord Snooty]

Huddersfield Town Manager Danny Cowley has made four changes to his starting XI for this evening’s Sky Bet Championship game against West Bromwich Albion; 5.30pm kick-off at the John Smith’s Stadium.

After four clean sheets in the last five games, Town’s defensive remains the same, which means that Richard Stearman keeps his place after returning to the starting XI against Sheffield Wednesday in the week.

Midfielders Andy King and Juninho Bacuna return to the side in place of Emile Smith Rowe and Elias Kachunga. Bacca tops Town’s assists chart this season and starts his first game since Town’s first match of the season restart.

Another change comes out wide with Chris Willock replacing Karlan Grant. Willock spent the first half of the season on loan at the Baggies.

The final switch comes up-front as Fraizer Campbell returns to lead the line in place of Steve Mounie. The striker grabbed an assist at the Hawthorns earlier this season setting up Lewis O’Brien.

Danny Cowley is without Tommy Elphick (knee) tonight.

Town’s team vs West Bromwich Albion

49. Jonas Lössl
3. Harry Toffolo
6. Jonathan Hogg
7. Juninho Bacuna
8. Trevoh Chalobah
10. Chris Willock
12. Richard Stearman
22. Fraizer Campbell
26. Christopher Schindler ©
29. Andy King
39. Lewis O’Brien

Substitutes
Joel Coleman; Elias Kachunga, Karlan Grant, Alex Pritchard, Steve Mounié, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Jaden Brown, Emile Smith Rowe, Demeaco Duhaney

---

1 Sam Johnstone
27 Dara O'Shea
14 Conor Townsend
6 Semi Ajayi
26 Ahmed Hegazi
19 Romaine Sawyers
10 Matt Phillips
8 Jake Livermore ©
12 Matheus Pereira
29 Grady Diangana
4 Hal Robson-Kanu

Substitutes
23 Jonathan Bond
5 Kyle Bartley
2 Darnell Furlong
11 Chris Brunt
13 Kamil Grosicki
16 Rekeem Harper
7 Filip Krovinovic
15 Charlie Austin
47 Callum Robinson

[jjamez]

Two 90 mins like the first 45 for us at The Hawthorns please.  

I like the Baggies and their fans but this is not the time to do them any favours. Sorry chaps, we need the the points more than you right now.

---

Don't forget Wigan will want as many points as possible to guarantee they stay up for next season.

They go down and the desirability of the club diminishes

The prick that bought them put them into admin straight away. Allegedly he has a big bet on them being relegated. I really don't give a stuff for pricks like him. If they are worthless after he's spent his millions buying them, it's his own fault.

I wasn't meaning for him to get money but more along the lines that interest in saving the club will diminish if they go down and it could do some serious damage to Wigan and the local area

[St Charles Owl]

Wigan, if they lose the last two (unlikely) will be on 45 points potentially, but with a +1 GD only if they let a shed full of goals in or Hull and or Luton pick up points - well at least one of them will because they play each other tomorrow. If Wigan get one win, which is likely at Charlton then it's more than likely they'll survive and start on -12 next season.

If they finish outside the relegation spots this season then the 12 point deduction is applied this season, if they finish in the bottom 3 then its applied next season.