The Sky Blues host Huddersfield Town at St Andrew’s on Wednesday night (8pm KO). Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.
Fact File
Name: Huddersfield Town
Founded: 1908
Stadium: John Smith’s Stadium (first opened 1994)
Capacity: 24,121
Nickname: The Terriers
Address: The John Smith’s Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX
Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards
The Opposition
Huddersfield are currently in 14th place and find themselves seven points off the play-off spots as they look to build some momentum over the festive period.
The Terriers are managed by Spaniard Carlos Corberan and have a blend of youth and experience in their squad with Christopher Schindler in defence, exciting Ajax loanee Carel Eiting in midfield and dangerman Josh Koroma, who has scored six league goals this season, in attack.
The Yorkshire club suffered a heavy defeat at Bournemouth last time out and haven’t won on the road since late October.
Manager
Carlos Corberan was appointed Huddersfield head coach in July this year, relinquishing his role as Leeds United under-23’s manager to take up the post.
The 37-year-old began his managerial career in Cyprus and spent brief spells in charge of Doxa and Ermis Aradippou before becoming Leeds’ under-23 manager in June 2017.
He was promoted to first-team coach, alongside his existing role, following the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road, and led his under-23’s side to the PDL Northern League title, before becoming national PDL champions after beating Birmingham City on penalties in the final.
After helping Leeds win the Championship last season, ending the club’s 16-year exile from the top-flight, he was snapped up by Huddersfield to replace outgoing manager Danny Cowley after a disappointing season saw the Terriers finish just three points above the drop zone.
With Huddersfield, Corberan has managed 19 matches recording seven wins, three draws and nine defeats.
Last Six Games
Lost – Bournemouth 5-0 Huddersfield (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Huddersfield 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Huddersfield 2-0 Queens Park Rangers (Sky Bet Championship)
Lost – Cardiff City 3-0 Huddersfield (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Huddersfield 3-2 Middlesbrough (Sky Bet Championship)
Drew – Wycombe 0-0 Huddersfield (Sky Bet Championship)
Last Time We Met
The two sides last met in the League Cup back in 1977 when the Sky Blues claimed a 2-0 win at Huddersfield’s former Leeds Road stadium.
Goals from Jim Holton and Ian Wallace secured City’s place in the third round of the competition in front of over 8,500 fans, the Terriers highest home attendance for a fixture that season.
The Sky Blues fielded a strong team with the likes of Jim Blyth, Tommy Hutchinson and Mick Ferguson all starting for Gordon Milne’s side.
City were playing in the First Division at the time with Huddersfield three tiers below them in the Fourth Division.
Head-to-Head Record
Sky Blues Wins – 5
Draws – 2
Huddersfield Wins – 8
Club Connections
Jordy Hiwula
Former Sky Blues man Jordy Hiwula departed City this summer, having previously spent three seasons with Huddersfield.
Hiwula came through the youth academy of Manchester City, but never made a competitive appearance for the club, spending time on loan with Yeovil Town and Walsall, featuring in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley with the Saddlers.
He joined Huddersfield in July 2015 and made one appearance for the Terriers before spending the next three seasons out on loan with Wigan Athletic, Walsall, Bradford City and Fleetwood Town.
After impressing in League One during his various loan spells, he was snapped up by the Sky Blues in August 2018.
The 26-year-old was City’s top-scorer in 2018/19, netting 13 goals in all competitions, before scoring twice in the league last season to help the club win the League One title.
He departed the Sky Blues in the summer, having made 61 appearances, scoring 17 goals, joining League One side Portsmouth on a short-term deal in October this year.
Danny Ward
Current Huddersfield player Danny Ward is in his third spell with the club, having spent time on loan with the Sky Blues earlier in his career.
The 29-year-old began his career with Bolton Wanderers and made two appearances for the club in the Premier League before being loaned to Swindon Town where he scored nine goals in 30 appearances.
He joined the Sky Blues on loan in September 2010, making five appearances for the club before returning to Bolton after suffering a long-term groin injury.
Ward completed the season on loan at Huddersfield, scoring three goals in seven appearances on his return from injury to help the League One club reach the play-offs, where they were beaten in the final by Peterborough United at Old Trafford.
He completed a permanent move to the Terriers that summer and helped the club secure promotion to the Championship, beating Sheffield United on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley.
After a difficult first season in the second-tier, Ward netted 10 league goals in 2013/14 before joining Rotherham United on an emergency loan the following campaign which was eventually made permanent, departing the Terriers having made over 100 league appearances.
Ward would spend two and a half seasons with the Millers in the Championship, impressing in 2016/17 where he managed 11 league goals despite the club suffering relegation to League One.
His fine form in Yorkshire earned him a move to Cardiff in June 2017 and helped the Welsh side achieve promotion to the Premier League in his first season with the Bluebirds.
He scored his first and only Premier League goal for the club against Arsenal as the Bluebirds were relegated straight back to the Championship, and scored seven goals last term to help Cardiff reach the play-offs where they were beaten by Fulham in the semi-finals.
Ward re-joined the Terriers this summer becoming Carlos Corberan’s first signing as Huddersfield head coach.
Match Officials
Tim Robinson will be the man in the middle on Wednesday night, taking charge of his 15th game of the 2020/21 season.
He last refereed the Sky Blues in January this year, taking charge of City’s 0-0 draw with Birmingham City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup at St Andrew’s.
This will be Robinson’s ninth season as a Football League referee and he has officiated the Sky Blues on seven occasions, with City winning three, drawing two and losing two of those matches.
So far, Robinson has awarded 48 yellow cards and five red cards across 14 matches in the Championship, League One and Carabao Cup.
He will be assisted by James Wilson and George Byrne with Jeremy Simpson acting as fourth official.