PREVIEW: MILLWALL (H)

3 April 2024

An in-depth look at our Sky Bet Championship fixture against Millwall at the John Smith's Stadium

- Huddersfield Town vs Millwall
- Saturday 6 April 2024, 3pm kick-off
- Preview of what to expect from the Lions

Keen to claim all three points in West Yorkshire, André Breitenreiter's Terriers take on Millwall at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.

Following a busy Easter period, Town will be looking to climb out of the bottom three with a win over the Lions on Saturday as we enter the final stages on the 2023/24 season.

THE OPPOSITION

Similarly to Town, the Lions have appointed three permanent managers since the start of the season, and find themselves just four points adrift of the Terriers.

Struggling to find form or momentum throughout their current campaign, Millwall have recorded just four wins since New Year's Day, with their most recent loss coming against Rotherham United who sit bottom of the table.

Hopeful of avoiding relegation under newly appointed Neil Harris, the opposition will be looking to climb the table with a win in West Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon.

THEIR MANAGER

A very familiar face in South East London, Neil Harris was appointed Head Coach of Millwall in February, following Joe Edwards' departure from the Den. Needing no introduction to Millwall supporters, Harris holds the title as the Lions' all-time record goalscorer - claiming the accolade in 2009 and going on to score 138 goals in all competitions for the Club.

Alongside his success as a player, the 46-year-old also managed the side prior to his current tenure, first as U21s Manager between 2013 and 2015, before undertaking the role of Caretaker Manager between 2013 and 2014, and finally being appointed Manager of the First Team from 2015 to 2019.

In his first full season in charge, Harris led Millwall to the League One Play-Off Final - which saw Barnsley gain promotion that year - before leading them once again to Wembley in the 2016/17 season. That year, the Lions won the Play-Off Final to return to the Sky Bet Championship, as well as reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals after knocking out Premier League sides Bournemouth, Watford, and Leicester City.

Taking charge of the Club as they sat in 21st place - just one point above the relegation zone - Harris has won three of his fixtures with the Lions so far, helping them climb to 19th position in the Sky Bet Championship table.

LAST TIME OUT

Despite enjoying the majority of possession and 21 shots in total, it was the Millers who walked away victorious on Easter Monday, with Millwall suffering a 2-1 defeat in South Yorkshire.

Despite Ryan Longman finding an equaliser in the 78th minute, Rotherham's Charlie Wyke found the back of the net eight minutes later to seal a win for his side who currently sit bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.

Previous Starting XI (4-4-2): Šarkić; Wallace, Cooper, Tanganga, Leonard; Watmore, Saville, De Norre, Honeyman; Obafemi, Flemming

FORMATION

Favouring a 4-4-2 formation since the arrival of Harris, Millwall experimented with five different structures beforehand, with none proving to produce consistency in results throughout their campaign.

Since switching to a 4-4-2, the Lions have recorded three wins, two draws, and two losses - including a win at St. Mary's against promotion-chasing Southampton in February.

WHO TO WATCH

Zian Flemming

Featuring in every game for the Lions this season, Flemming has so far found the back of the net seven times, whilst also recording four assists for his side.

Much sought after in the summer of 2022, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder progressed through the Ajax Academy before making a name for himself on loan at NEC.

Japhet Tanganga

Making the move to South East London in January, the 25-year-old centre-back joined from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Playing every minute since the arrival of Millwall's new Head Coach, Tanganga already has two goals to his name and will be looking to get back on the scoresheet against the Terriers on Saturday.

Jake Cooper

Featuring in every game under Harris, Cooper has made over 300 appearances for the Lions, and has been the Club's regular captain on the pitch this season.

One of the most effective players in the division in aerial challenges, he’s a genuine threat from set pieces.

TOWN TEAM NEWS

Huddersfield Town Head Coach André Breitenreiter will update the press on team news from 1pm on Thursday 4 April - and supporters can watch along live via HTTV on YouTube, or via our official X profile.

KIT

Town are back at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday, and will be back in their traditional blue and white stripes to take on Millwall in the Sky Bet Championship.

There's currently 30% off our Umbro 2023/24 replica kits - and you can CLICK HERE to get your very own online!

iFOLLOW HTAFC

Due to the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off time, video match passes for this fixture will not be available in the United Kingdom.

Supporters who still want to follow every second of the game can purchase an audio match pass by CLICKING HERE.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 1-0 MILLWALL

6 April 2024

A massive win at the John Smith's Stadium!

- Huddersfield Town 1-0 Millwall
- Rhys Healey scores winner in added time
- A massive win for the Terriers

Town recorded a huge first home victory under Head Coach André Breitenreiter against Millwall, pulling themselves out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone in the process.

A wind-affected game, it turned out to be a real battle against another team that is working to secure its status in the division, but Town’s players will feel they deserved the three points that were secured late on in second half added time through substitute Rhys Healey.

In the end, the only thing that mattered was the scoreline, with Town’s defenders also deserving credit for the clean sheet.

Breitenreiter switched to a 4-4-2 for the game, with Delano Burgzorg returning to play up front alongside Bojan Radulovic.

There was a swirling wind inside the stadium throughout the game that caused both sides real problems at times. Town’s players had that at their backs in the opening 45, meaning that some long passes travelled way further than intended, whereas Millwall’s goalkeeper sometimes struggled to effectively clear his lines at the other end.

There were chances for both sides in the opening half, however. Burgzorg tested Millwall’s stopper inside the opening two minutes, and Lee Nicholls soon had to be alert to collect a rising half volley from midfielder Billy Mitchell at the other end.

The Lions’ first notable chance came in the 13th minute when winger Ryan Longman found space to deliver a cross beyond Ben Jackson; his delivered found George Honeyman at the back post, but it arrived at an awkward height and it effectively hit his teammate before dropping well wide.

Town kept plugging away, with Josh Koroma a particularly lively outlet on our left, but the next opportunity on the half hour came down our right. A corner was won and taken by Thomas; he found Radulovic’s head at the near post, but the Spanish-born striker directed it over.

Koroma then came to the fore, receiving the ball on the left after good combination play between our two forwards, only for on-loan Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga to come across and block well.

Town were in the ascendancy at this post, going close again through another corner that bounced through the area before dropping to Radulovic, who couldn’t make a good contact with the ball. From the resulting corner, Thomas forced the goalkeeper to get to his near post and fist a delivery clear that would have gone in directly.

Millwall then showed they also carried a set piece threat through two corners. First striker Michael Obafemi tried his luck with an athletic effort that had to be deflected wide by Alex Matos, and then giant defender Jake Cooper headed over the resulting set piece.

Thomas and Koroma tried their luck from range as Town took the fight to Millwall again, and then followed the biggest chance of the half. Burgzorg picked up the ball just outside the Millwall area and forced goalkeeper Sarkic to parry his low shot away; it looked like it would run to Koroma to tap in, but somehow Ryan Leonard got across to block JK’s shot brilliantly.

Town kicked into the strong wind in the second half, and it continued to make the going difficult at times.

Brodie Spencer soon pulled off a great bit of back post defending to prevent Longman from turning a cross home and set Town off on a break in the process, with Burgzorg sending Radulovic into the area. He pulled the ball back for Koroma, but the winger couldn’t turn it home.

Kasumu fired into the Millwall fans as play continued, at which stage the game started to get a bit fractious. Sorba Thomas and Billy Mitchell were both booked for reacting after a challenge, whilst Honeyman and Spencer soon got involved too.

Breitenreiter rang the changes to try and find the elusive goal, with Headley, Healey, fit-again Danny Ward and Wiles all entering the fray, and Healey soon went just inches away from connecting with an excellent cross from Thomas at full stretch.

Then, in five added minutes, the goal finally came. Headley deserved credit for winning the corner with a determined forward run down the right, from which Thomas picked out Pearson at the back post; the goalkeeper pushed Matty’s goal-bound header into the air, where Healey rose highest to nod home his second John Smith’s Stadium goal!

Town’s team (4-4-2)
Lee Nicholls; Brodie Spencer (Tom Edwards, 80’), Matty Pearson, Michał Helik (c), Ben Jackson (Jaheim Headley, 46’); Sorba Thomas, David Kasumu, Alex Matos (Ben Wiles, 80’), Josh Koroma (Danny Ward, 70’); Bojan Radulovic (Rhys Healey, 62’), Delano Burgzorg

Unused substitutes
Chris Maxwell; Ollie Turton, Pat Jones, Tom Iorpenda,

Town bookings
Ben Jackson (34’), Sorba Thomas (61’), Tom Edwards (90+2’)

Gate
18,579

Away fans
492

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