Huddersfield Town (A) Preview
Cambridge United’s Easter schedule in Sky Bet League One begins at the John Smith’s Stadium on Good Friday as they take on Huddersfield Town…
How to Watch
A good number of the United faithful are poised to make the trip up to West Yorkshire on Good Friday, with the game kicking off at 3pm.
Supporters who wish to join them can purchase their tickets online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Cledara Abbey Stadium Club Shop prior to 12pm on Thursday. Alternatively, fans can buy from the ground on the day of the game.
Unable to attend? Get behind the team from the comfort of your home. The match is being shown live on Sky Sports+ for UK-based fans, whilst overseas supporters can stream the game live on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
A giant of the English game a century ago, Huddersfield were founded in 1908 and soon celebrated an FA Cup win and three successive First Division titles – where they would stay until 1952. They continued to fluctuate from here, but most recently worked their way towards the Premier League in 2017, enjoying two seasons against the heavyweights. Last time out, the west Yorkshire outfit succumbed to the third tier for the first time in 12 years, prompting them to recruit Michael Duff on a three-year deal during the summer to help steer the ship. However, with things not quite going to plan, the brave decision to part ways was made in March – but with time now running out, the upcoming Easter schedule is well and truly make or break.
For some time, the Terriers were ticking along nicely in what looked destined to be a consistently navigated 2024/25 season – the side spent just four matchdays out of the play-offs up until early March. Four wins from their opening five and an impressive 16-game unbeaten run meant a promotion tilt looked inevitable, but form has stagnated since the turn of the year. Due to eight defeats from their previous 11, Huddersfield sit in 9th and have a five-point bridge to 6th to gap. The tussle for that elusive spot against Bolton Wanderers, Leyton Orient and Reading looks set to go to the wire, but a return to winning ways against the U’s is an absolute must.
Now under the tutelage of ex-captain Jon Worthington, the 42-year-old has instilled a 4-2-3-1 setup which, despite poor form, contains a plethora of Football League know-how and individual quality. Lee Nicholls possesses that between the sticks, with a solid defence of former Lincoln City man Lasse Sorensen, Matthew Pearson, Josh Ruffels and Mickel Miller – another with pedigree not just at this level but above. Veteran Jonathan Hogg has been a mainstay since 2013 and has developed a partnership David Kasumu over recent years, with Dutchman Ruben Roosken and Ben Wiles – on 13 goal involvements – deployed further up. Proven talisman Dion Charles was an eye-catching January signing, but he’ll be desperate to open his account, with 22-year-old Joe Taylor – another who starred at Lincoln last season – leading the line.
Form Guide
- 29/03/2025 – Charlton Athletic 4-0 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 01/04/2025 – Lincoln City 1-0 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 05/04/2025 – Huddersfield Town 2-1 Mansfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 08/04/2025 – Huddersfield Town 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 12/04/2025 – Burton Albion 3-0 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
Last time out on home soil, the U’s fell short as play-off occupiers Charlton Athletic held out firm for a 0-1 win to distribute a first league defeat since the middle of March.
With very little to separate the sides during a spicy affair, which was also low-key in terms of gilt-edged chances, it took a moment of quality from winger Tyreece Campbell in the opening stages to secure the points. Frustratingly for United, and what has encapsulated a tricky season, it was their 14th league loss by a single goal and another missed opportunity where they couldn’t capitalise in the final third.
Assessing the performance from his group, Neil Harris claimed: “How do I sum that one up? It’s levels sometimes in football. Players are at a level for a reason, Charlton are where they are for a reason and we’ll end up where we end up for a reason… Football matches – 99 times out of 100 – are won in both boxes and today they had one moment of quality in our box.”
The Head Coach will now be looking to put things right with the remaining four matches coming thick and fast. For Cambridge, the aim is to keep the fight going for as long as possible.
Form Guide
- 22/03/2025 – Barnsley 1-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 29/03/2025 – Cambridge United 1-1 Northampton Town – Sky Bet League One
- 01/04/2025 – Cambridge United 2-2 Wrexham – Sky Bet League One
- 05/04/2025 – Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 12/04/2025 – Cambridge United 0-1 Charlton Athletic – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Huddersfield Town Wins: 12
- Cambridge United Wins: 1
- Draws: 8
Last Time We Met
Friday 20 December 2024 – Cambridge United 0-4 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
The festive matchup under the Abbey floodlights four months ago resulted in a comprehensive 0-4 victory for the in-form Terriers in front of 6,949. Superior from the first whistle, the visitors controlled proceedings and found it simple to source their goals as David Kasumu, Brodie Spencer and Callum Marshall helped roar to a three-goal lead going into the break. Despite endeavour after the break, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished 20 minutes from time as Marshall sweeped home for his brace. The line-up on that night: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Watts, Bennett, Cousins, Brophy, Andrew, Kachunga, Nlundulu, Lavery.
Officials
- Referee: Sam Allison
- Assistant Referee: Rob Smith
- Assistant Referee: Matthew Jones
- Fourth Official: Matt Corlett