A Look at City’s League Cup Opponents
Manchester City take on high-flying Huddersfield Town on Wednesday as they look to secure a place in the fourth round of the League Cup. After winning four straight finals between 2018 and 2021, the Blues have not done too well in the competition, exiting at the third round once, the fourth round twice and the quarter-final once.
Huddersfield Town always bring back fond memories for older supporters. In 1988, the Blues thrashed the Terriers 10-1 at Maine Road, with three players grabbing hat-tricks. There’s little chance of a similar scoreline on Wednesday evening and the Blues will be expected to rotate the squad a little, given that they have played three games in eight days.
Huddersfield will no doubt take heart from Grimsby Town’s heroics in the last round after the League Two Mariners knocked United out on penalties. The pair have only met once in the League Cup, which took place in 1968. A goalless draw in Yorkshire was followed up with a 4-0 win for City a week later.
Form
Huddersfield are currently fifth in League One, winning five and losing three of their nine matches so far. The Terriers are unbeaten at home so far this season, winning four and drawing one of their five matches. They have scored nine and conceded two, keeping four clean sheets. Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Burton Albion was the first time they have failed to score both home and away.
In the League Cup, Huddersfield have relied on penalties to see them through to the third round. A 2-2 home draw with Leicester City went to spot-kicks, which Town won 3-2, and in the fourth round, they faced Premier League Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Town led 1-0 from the 9th minute, but the Black Cats levelled with six minutes remaining. Again, the match went to penalties, which Huddersfield won 6-5.
Danger Men
Welsh forward Joe Taylor is Huddersfield’s biggest threat in front of goal. Taylor has scored three goals so far and has managed 15 shots at goal in nine matches. Alfie May has scored two from his 21 shots, as has midfielder Ben Wiles.
Assists have come from May, who has two and has a 79% pass accuracy rating, and may be the one City need to stop and keep an eye on if they are to pass this potential banana skin.
The Boss
The man tasked with reviving Huddersfield is Lee Grant, who was appointed manager in May. A former goalkeeper, Grant had two spells at Derby County, three years at Sheffield Wednesday, three at Burnley, then moved to Stoke before finishing his career at Old Trafford, spending four years in Stretford. Grant’s son, True, is on the books at the Etihad Stadium.
Huddersfield is Grant’s first managerial position and so far, he has presided over 12 matches, winning six and losing three. It doesn’t take a genius to work out his win ratio is 50%.
Category: General Sports
