Carlos Corberán’s Terriers hope to combat Neil Warnock’s inconsistent Middlesbrough

In a polar opposite season for Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town are experiencing a similar Championship campaign to last season.

Last season the two sides were rarely apart and spent the majority of the campaign within a few places of one another. At the start of this season, it looked like the sides would potentially be in the same scenario as both improved under new coaches.

Previous Two Meetings

In the prior two games, both sides have seen their fair share of the points with a 1-0 Boro win on Boxing Day in 2019 at the Riverside, followed by a 3-2 win for the Terriers when the sides played at the John Smith’s Stadium in October this season.

The 1-0 at the Riverside saw two dire attacking sides trying to get a singular goal and it would be the side from the North East that would eventually score through young full-back Djed Spence. The full-back impressed throughout the game but this season the youngster has failed to make that impact a consistency in this campaign.

Spence was a key player under former manager Jonathan Woodgate after his call-up to the first team from the under-23s side featuring in 22 of the sides games from December until the end of the season. The youngster’s performances even drew interest of Premier League sides like Burnley, Sheffield United and Spurs, due to Jose Mourinho’s interest in the player since Spence’s time at Fulham.

However, due to no real notable performances and the availability of Darnell Fisher, it is unlikely that Boro fans will see Spence get ahead of Fisher or Anfernee Dijksteel.

In the most recent game between the sides, it would be Huddersfield who would be victorious after showing little signs of positivity in the first third of the game. Boro took the lead through Marvin Johnson following sloppy Huddersfield defending, something Town fans have since begun to see as a regular occurrence and a major downfall in the side’s campaign so far.

However, Huddersfield would score two in eight minutes seeing them go into half time a goal ahead, following goals from Carel Eiting and Fraizer Campbell to completely turn the outlook on the game for Carlos Corberán.

Boro would equalise in the 83rd minute through a Britt Assombalonga penalty following a poor challenge from Naby Sarr. Late on, Huddersfield’s talisman Josh Koroma would drive through the Middlesbrough team and go on to score a beautifully curled goal.

In retrospect, it was probably the West Yorkshire outlet’s best showing this season. A comeback from a one-goal deficit has been rare for the Terriers, whilst Eiting and Koroma are both key attacking players for Corberán’s men but remain on the sidelines for Tuesday’s fixture.

There was the tactical switch as well for both sides between the two outings with Danny Cowley and Woodgate being replaced with Corberán and Warnock respectively. The change saw Huddersfield switch to a 4-3-3 rather than the 4-2-3-1 used often by the Cowley’s and a switch to the 4-2-3-1 from a three or five at the back-formation for Middlesbrough.

The first meeting between the sides this season also saw the debut of the change to a three at the back scenario for Huddersfield which has since become a staple. The attacking threat utilised by the full-backs has seen Huddersfield fans hoping to see more of the tactic.

Current Form 

Both sides are in a dire spell of form, Huddersfield winless in their last nine games, Boro in their last six. Yet to further dampen spirits for fans of the West Yorkshire outlet, the Terriers haven’t won at home now since the 31st of October. A nearly five-month period without a win on the road, however following recent form the woes aren’t limited to away from the John Smith’s Stadium.

Corberán will be desperate to get a result here more than ever due to the team getting ever closer to the relegation zone. His side sit just five points and four places into safety currently, however, the gap between the two sides playing on Tuesday is just seven points.

Warnock will feel the game is a must win if he wants to close the gap between themselves and Bournemouth to potentially just three points and get his team into the play-offs this season.

Players to watch

This game offers a real chance for Boro’s new loanee Neeskens Kebano to further his goal record in a red shirt. Joining on a six-month loan deal the Congolese winger was given the chance to link up with Yannick Bolasie and Britt Assombalonga.

Scoring in his last game, the 2-1 defeat to Derby, Kebano has now played twice and impressed in both, in the process creating a different dynamic to Patrick Roberts.

The winger will likely be facing against Lewis O’Brien at left-back due to the ineligibility of Harry Toffolo who will face three games on the sidelines due to the red card that the full-back picked up late on against Luton Town.

However, Neil Warnock must be aware of Isaac Mbenza, who following a disappointing past few games found himself on the scoresheet in the side’s 3-2 loss to Wycombe. The Belgian looked a major threat against the side placed bottom in the table and showed what he can do if given the ball.

With the winger’s contract expiring in the upcoming months, Corberán and the club have a massive decision ahead of them, whether or not they extend the contract of the winger initially signed by David Wagner in the 2018/19 season.

Mbenza will be one of the higher wages at the club but it will soon be decided if the board and manager see it fit to extend his contract even if it is just to sell the player on.

The game definitely will be a battle from the first kick of the ball to the last and with the game meaning so much to both sides and with the inconsistencies, both teams are showing, it has the chance to be a poor showing or a goal-fest.

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