MATCH PREVIEW: LEICESTER CITY (H)

10 August 2023

Town’s first home Sky Bet Championship fixture of the 2023/24 season

- Huddersfield Town vs Leicester City
- 3pm kick-off on Saturday 12 August 2023
- Listen along to the game via iFollow

The Terriers begin their 2023/24 home campaign in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 12 August when they take on Leicester City at the John Smith’s Stadium in a 3pm kick-off.

Following Town’s 3-1 away loss to Plymouth Argyle on the opening weekend, the Terries will be hoping to get their first league win of the 2023/24 campaign at our first league game back in HD1.

This will be our first meeting with the Foxes since April 2019 in the Premier League, when Leicester won 4-1. We played them four times over our two-year stint in the Premier League, drawing our first game and falling short in the next three.

THE OPPOSITION

Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League in their last game of the season despite beating West Ham as Everton beat AFC Bournemouth to secure safety and send Leicester down.

This is Leicester’s first time in the Sky Bet Championship since the 2013/14 season when they were promoted to the Premier League as winners after five years in England’s second division.

In June 2023, former Manchester City Assistant Manager Enzo Maresca was appointed Head Coach of Leicester City and he saw out his first game in charge of the Foxes in their 2-1 win over Coventry City on Saturday 5 August as they got three points on the table in the first game of the season.

ONES TO WATCH

Ricardo Pereira

29-year-old Ricardo Pereira joined Leicester City in May 2018 from Portuguese side Porto and made such an impression in his first year that he was named Club’s Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year. Pereira also starred in the Foxes’ successful run to winning the FA Cup in 2021 after playing a key role in Brendan Rodgers' defence. Pereira played the full 90 minutes for Leicester in their first Sky Bet Championship game last weekend under Enzo Maresca.

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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

After coming through the ranks with Leicester City from the age of eight and making his mark on the club’s academy, Dewsbury-Hall made his senior debut in an FA Cup tie against Brentford in January 2020 before going on loan spells to Blackpool for the second half of the 2019/20 season and Luton Town for the 2020/21 season. The 24-year-old made his Premier League debut in August 2021 and scored his first Premier League goal in April 2022 in a home win over Crystal Palace. Dewsbury-Hall played the full 90 minutes against Coventry City and scored both goals in the opening game to come back from being one down to win the game.

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Jamie Vardy

The former England international signed for Leicester City in 2012 from then non-league side Fleetwood Town and is now the third top goal scorer of all time for the Foxes with 170 goals in all competitions. Alongside winning the Premier League with Leicester City in the 2015/16 season, Vardy has also earned 26 England caps between 2015 and 2018, whilst scoring seven goals for his country. The forward signed a new deal with Leicester at the end of the 2021/22 season, keeping him at the King Power Stadium until at least 2024.

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TEAM NEWS

Neil Warnock will provide the latest update on his team news in his upcoming press conference on Thursday 10 August 2023.

KIT

The Terriers will be in their famous blue and white stripes for their first home Sky Bet Championship fixture of the 2023/24 season against Leicester City.

CLICK HERE to get your new 2023/24 Umbro home kit!

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TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now for those who have a previous booking history with us – CLICK HERE – priced as follows in all areas (except hospitality):

Adults - £25
65s and over - £20
18s and under - £15
Under 11s - £10

DISABLED SUPPORTERS

Disabled supporters should pay their relevant price class, with a companion ticket free of charge.

PAY ON THE DAY

Supporters are strongly advised that the fastest and easiest way to join us at the John Smith’s Stadium is to purchase your in advance online or via the Ticket Office in person or over the phone.

Tickets will be available from the Ticket Office on match day, but queues are likely closer to kick-off, so please purchase in advance to avoid delay.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Saturday’s match will be available to listen to on iFollow HTAFC.

Town fans will be able to listen to Saturday’s game through our live audio commentary by purchasing either a Season, Monthly or Audio Match Pass to tune in. You can purchase a Season Pass for £45, an Monthly Pass for £4.49 or an Audio Match Pass for £2.50.

CLICK HERE to sign up to iFollow HTAFC!

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 0-1 LEICESTER CITY

12 August 2023

Second half goal broke from Leicester City the deadlock this afternoon

- Huddersfield Town 0-1 Leicester City
- Second half goal from Leicester City the difference
- Great spirit and effort shown by the Terriers

Despite a performance full of effort from Town, they suffered an unfortunate defeat against Leicester City at the John Smith's Stadium this afternoon in the Sky Bet Championship.

Having been an even side for the entire first half, playing level with Leicester City, Town were unfortunate coem away pointless this afternoon.

The first real action of the game came in the seventh minute after Brahima Diarra retrieved the ball from Josh Koroma, he fancied his chances, but his shot went wide across the goal.

A free-kick was awarded to Leicester City in the 12th minute after a foul from Matty Pearson, but the header that came from the set-piece was anticipated well by Lee Nicholls and he saved the ball that was headed towards the bottom corner.

Koroma produced a good tackle in the Town box as he dispossessed the group of Leicester players who were in the box after their counter-attack, which sees them have a chance to go clean through on goal – our number 10 smartly regained possession and pushed Town forward.

This was shortly followed by a good chance from Koroma as Brahima took the ball inside the box but didn’t find the space to shoot, so he fed the ball to Koroma who’s shot was blocked by group of defenders in the box and then safely caught by Jakub Stolarczyk.

Nicholls made an incredible save whilst one-on-one with Dennis Praet, which allowed Town to go on the counter-attack before Jack Rudoni was brought down on the edge of the Leicester City box.

Rudoni was brought down once again less than 10 minutes later at the edge of the box, this time by Praet. The set-piece saw Koroma run over the ball and flick it back for Rudoni to run onto the moving ball, but this hit the Leicester wall and was saved by the ‘keeper.

Another chance for Koroma 33 minutes into the game from well outside the box; our number 10 cut inside and struck the ball with so much power behind it from 30 yards out and forced Stolarczyk to push the ball over the bar for a corner.

Michał Helik had his chance just before the break following an excellent quick free-kick taken by Sorba Thomas as his cross into the box was met by a first-time volley from the centre-back at the far post, but this went high over the bar. This meant that we went into the second half with everything still to play for.

The Terriers came out in the second half with great spirit and effort, as they threw everything they had at Leicester City. Diarra had the first chance of the half as he ran into the outside corner of the box and tested the ‘keeper with his shot, forcing a corner.

Strong teamwork shone through this afternoon with Rudoni playing his part in defence as well as attack, he slid into the box to block Praet in the box, and this allowed Nicholls to come in and collect the ball.

It was fairly even for a while after this block with both sides trying to break down the other; the deadlock was broken in the 73rd minute after a goal from Stephy Mavididi with his shot from a narrow angle.

Nicholls then made an incredible in the first minute of added time as he denied Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall the chance to double the lead.

Despite a good performance from our Terriers, Leicester City secured all three points in this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship fixture.

Town’s Team (4-2-3-1)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Edwards, Michał Helik, Matty Pearson, Josh Ruffels; Jack Rudoni, Jonathan Hogg (c); Sorba Thomas, Brahima Diarra (Pat Jones, 78’), Josh Koroma; Danny Ward (Kian Harratt, 78’)

Unused Subs
Chris Maxwell, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jordan Rhodes, Kyle Hudlin, Ben Jackson, Yuta Nakayama, Josh Austerfield

Bookings
Matty Pearson (54’)