EFL Championship 2019/20: Huddersfield Town vs Leeds United – tactical analysis

Following Huddersfield Town’s relegation, one of the fixtures they, and their Leeds United counterparts, look out for is the first Yorkshire derby of the season. On Saturday we saw the re-ignition of these typically feisty affairs at the John Smith’s Stadium.

A chaotic defeat to Derby County in the play-offs last season left Leeds stuck in the EFL Championship for another season. However, theyve retained Marcelo Bielsa’s services and have shown no signs of a hangover, creating a five-point gap between them and Fulham before the day’s play. The Whites come into this off a dominant 4:0 victory over ex-player Jonathan Woodgate’s struggling Middlesbrough side.

The highly-rated Cowley brothers’ appointment in early September has improved the Terriers’ fortunes after the disastrous start they experienced under previous boss Jan Siewert.

In this tactical analysis, we shall dissect the tactics of the respective teams and managers game-plan in this EFL Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Leeds United.

Line-ups

Danny Cowley made a total of three changes to his team. Steve Mounié came in for the injured Frazier Campbell, Josh Koroma took Lewis O’Brien’s place to go at left wing. And youth player Demeaco Duhaney got ahead of the infinitely more experienced Terence Kongolo, playing at right-back. Top scorer for the home side Karlan Grant would be looking to add to his tally of 11. Cowley’s options off the bench though were very limited with a number of youth players making the bench.

Bielsa has had to cope with a minor defensive crisis. Fan Favourite Kalvin Phillips picked up his fifth booking of the season against Boro and now serves a one-match ban. Unexpectedly, you could say, the legendary Argentinian head coach stated in his pre-match press conference that he would play Ben White in Phillips’ place as the single pivot. Adding insult to injury, Liam Cooper, the other centre-back was ruled out due to a minor calf strain, resulting in Luke Ayling covering and Ezgjan Alioski then went in Aylings place at full-back.

Huddersfield’s ferocious start

Recognising the importance to the fans the home side made their mark early as they had a purposeful tempo and intensity to their play and pressing.

Lining u