Birmingham City v Huddersfield Town: Terriers dropping deep in fresh approach

HARRY REDKNAPP'S return to football 10 days ago came in the Jasper Carrott Suite at Birmingham City's St Andrews home.
David WagnerDavid Wagner
David Wagner

Considering this season has been far from a barrel of laughs for Blues followers, maybe the choice of venue for the 70-year-old’s unveiling was not the most appropriate.

Still, Redknapp can yet have the last laugh if he keeps the 2011 League Cup winners in the Championship and today Huddersfield Town must avoid becoming his fall guy in front of a sell-out crowd.

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With the stakes so high for the hosts, nerves are expected to be frayed at St Andrews and this is where the more measured approach of David Wagner’s men on the road in recent weeks could prove the difference.

Against Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield were willing to let the hosts have the ball in the belief their own shape and organisation would be enough to keep the opposition at bay.

But for Jacob Butterfield’s last-minute equaliser at the Ipro on Easter Monday, the tactic would have yielded six points and Wagner is ready to stick with the new approach.

“We have two more games to play where we must make sure we get everyone as fresh as possible going into the play-offs,” he added.

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“The other side is to work on our shape. We have said before that away from home, the most important thing as a team is to be able to manage results.

“That is how we prepared for Derby and Wolves in our last two away games – giving them more of the ball, playing with a deeper shape.

“It worked in both games but we need more match time to work on it. That is what we have in our head going to Birmingham. At home, with our supporters in the John Smith’s Stadium, we are able to win and dominate opponents. We have shown that this season.”

Victory or even a draw for Town together with Blackburn beating Aston Villa would leave Redknapp’s new charges in the bottom three with just one game to go.