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Tag: pne

Fotheringham’s interview confusion, defensive errors, Ayina subbed before red, misfiring strikers – notes on Huddersfield Town’s defeat to PNE

Fotheringham’s interview confusion, defensive errors, Ayina subbed before red, misfiring strikers – notes on Huddersfield Town’s defeat to PNE

Matches
Huddersfield Town lost 3-1 to Preston and saw themselves leave the FACup at the third round stage despite taking the lead early in the second half. It was a game that the Terriers probably could have won “on another day” , to borrow a phrase our head coach is fond of using.  But rather than looking forward to a fourth round tie against Tottenham Hotspur, like PNE are now doing, we are instead having to rue our missed opportunities and convince ourselves that we wanted to concentrate on the league anyway. What tosh, I’d much rather have a bit of cup glory as a distraction from the drudgery of a relegation scrap.  Here are a few of my thoughts from the game… Defensive errors cost Town dearly All three of Preston’s goals looked bad in real time and are even worse when y...
Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE in the FA Cup

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE in the FA Cup

Matches
Huddersfield Town take on Preston North End yet again today, this time in the FA Cup third round. Having already played them in the league cup and twice in the league, it's safe to see we've seen enough of Preston. While it's not exactly likely, it is technically possible that we could break some sort of record if we finish in the playoffs and end up playing them twice more in the playoff semi finals. Chuck in an FA Cup third round replay that nobody wants and there's the possibility of playing Preston seven times in one season, realistically though, today should be the final time we face them unless the game ends in a draw, which neither team will want.  Predicting today's team is a fool's errand as Mark Fotheringham is almost certain to make wholesale changes to rest his first teamer...
Why was Sorba Thomas dropped?, Diarra the difference maker, the change that improved Rudoni and is Fotheringham actually quite good? – Notes on the win at Preston

Why was Sorba Thomas dropped?, Diarra the difference maker, the change that improved Rudoni and is Fotheringham actually quite good? – Notes on the win at Preston

Matches
I appreciate this post-Preston game blog is a bit late, given we’re playing Rotherham tonight but I’ve been struck down with the bug that’s going round, so I’ve got behind on things.  The win at Preston was huge, not least because it was the first time we’d won there in around 500 years (my zero key got stuck but it feels about right). The three points also mean we can now imagine a world where we’re not stuck at the bottom of the table and things don’t feel quite so miserable. Or at least they don’t for me, because I have an unfathomable tendency towards optimism when it comes to Huddersfield Town, despite years of evidence where events have played out the other way.  Anyway, here’s my look back at the Preston game…. if I get the chance I’ll do a team prediction for tonig...
All change! Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE in the League Cup 

All change! Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE in the League Cup 

Matches
Huddersfield Town take on Preston North End tonight in the Carabao Cup tonight in a match that may previously have seemed fairly meaningless but now has increased importance after Danny Schofield lost his opening two games in the Championship. Away from the glare of the league campaign he's likely to rotate his squad and give the fringe players a run out but he will also be hoping to record his first win as Head Coach.  Predicting the team for these games can be very tricky when wholesale changes are likely but it's also quite fun to try and guess which of the players on the first team will be given a chance. Here's how I think we'll line up.  Goalkeeper: Chapman If you go off the official club website, Lee Nicholls and Ryan Schofield are the first team goalkeepers so it should b...
Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Sheffield United, predictions for the game and thoughts on PNE draw

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Sheffield United, predictions for the game and thoughts on PNE draw

Matches
Huddersfield Town take on Sheffield United this lunchtime in an early kickoff at the John Smiths’ Stadium. Town are now 13 games into an unbeaten run but come up against an opponent in decent form and will most likely find it a tough test.  After an attritional point was earned at Preston on Wednesday night I have a feeling that we may be in for another game where Town fans see our opponent have more of the ball. But when we played Sheffield United earlier in the season they did the same and Levi Colwill scored late on for us to snatch the three points. So I think Town have a chance of taking three points today even if we aren’t the team playing the nicest football. Predicted lineup to take on Sheffield United Many managers would rotate their squad when playing Wednesday nig...
Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Preston North End

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Preston North End

Matches
Huddersfield Town take on Preston tonight and will be hoping to extend their incredible unbeaten run to 13 games. PNE are always a tough opponent though and it won't be as simple as turning up and collecting three points.  While Town won't have it all their own way this evening, we're also a team that other clubs won't relish playing these days. We've got dangerous attackers, a massively improved defence and a goalkeeper that has turned dawdling over a dead ball into an art form.  Here's how I think we'll line up.  Goalkeeper: Lee Nicholls  Jamal Blackman was absolutely fine on his debut against Barnsley but he'll step aside tonight anyway and Nicholls will return. Having two established professionals in the goalkeeping department makes me feel much happier...
An awful way to win, no obvious gameplan, touchline antics, a few positives and a look ahead – notes on the PNE win

An awful way to win, no obvious gameplan, touchline antics, a few positives and a look ahead – notes on the PNE win

Matches
This writeup of Town’s win against Preston North End is a bit on the late side. I’ve been busy since the game but I’ve also held back from writing about the game because I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Before the match I’d said getting three points would be good regardless of how we played, even though an improved performance was the ideal. But it doesn’t feel like a victory and I’m almost as glum about Town’s prospects as I was before the game.  I keep telling myself that it’s too early in the season to know what’s in store for Town. The psychotically optimistic part of my brain is also desperate to cling to the fact that goal difference (already among the worst in the league) is the only thing keeping us out of the playoff spots in the embryonic league table. But I’m sti...
Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE

Matches
Thankfully Town fans don’t have to spend too long feeling sorry for themselves after Saturday’s humbling at the hands of Fulham as they look to bounce back against Preston at the John Smith’s Stadium tonight. Preston have their own problems to deal with, after losing their first two games, so both sides will be desperate to get back to winning ways.  The fact that neither side has had a good start to the season so far could make this game resemble two half-blind pigeons squabbling over a cigarette butt, with lots of determination on show but little skill. While Town’s players and coaching staff will be desperate to turn in a performance and a result after Saturday, Preston won’t be pushovers and it could be a war of attrition.  Thankfully Carlos has a few players returning...
Corberán’s mistakes, fragile confidence, relegation odds and lumping it up to the big man – Notes on Town’s defeat to PNE

Corberán’s mistakes, fragile confidence, relegation odds and lumping it up to the big man – Notes on Town’s defeat to PNE

Matches
Town's wretched 2021 continued with another abject game, where defeat was embraced like a dear friend by a team. We don't have a losing habit, it's gone past a that now and into an addiction. The only possible explanation for such consistently disappointing results is a compulsion deep within the players and coaches to throw away games that they're capable of winning.  I'm genuinely shocked that the optimism I felt after Town's resounding win against Swansea was only last week. After two defeats and two awful second-half performances it's now clear last weekend's win was a false dawn and dark times are still ahead to Town fans.  The good start  In nearly every game of Town's terrible run in 2021 there have been pockets where Town have played well. Usually it comes ...
Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE

Matches
These team prediction articles have changed over time. Rather than trying to pick the cream of the available talent in the Town squad it's more of a case of cobbling together a starting eleven that is more or less fit and with players that are mostly able to buy a lottery ticket without needing ID.  So the tricky away fixture at Preston is likely to see another Town team of players that are either inexperienced, out of form or over the hill. In case you haven't guessed it, my expectations are through the floor for this game after our dismal showing at Derby in midweek. But, knowing Town, the point where you're most disgusted with them is when they surprise you with an unlikely victory, like they did against Swansea last weekend.  Here's who I think Carlos will pick tomorro...