Huddersfield Town's U21 side secured a valuable 2-2 draw away to Swansea City in the Premier League Cup this week. The result keeps the young Terriers at the summit of Group C with four points from their opening fixtures.
Cameron Ashia opened the scoring for the visitors in first-half stoppage time, finding the net in the 45+2nd minute. Swansea fought back after the break, but substitute Fortune Fontoh leveled the match at 2-2 with an 85th-minute strike to earn a share of the spoils. The match was played at the Joma High Performance Centre in South Wales.
How did Huddersfield Town set up?
Head coach Francis Hurl selected a side captained by centre-back Ian Togo. Grant Amah started at right-back with Nic Idemudia on the left. The midfield featured Jonathan Hogg and Jonathan Unwin centrally, flanked by Dylan Tawodzera on the right and Michael Onyeka on the left, with Cameron Ashia also operating in a wide role. Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake led the line as the lone forward.
The game saw its share of disciplinary action. Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake received a booking in the 43rd minute, and captain Ian Togo was also cautioned during the same stoppage-time period in which Ashia scored. Hurl made a triple change on the hour mark, introducing Pharrell Bell, Paddy Key, and the eventual goalscorer Fortune Fontoh for Togo, Ashia, and Ebanks-Blake. Claudio Nzang later replaced Bell in the 72nd minute, while Hugo Bennett remained an unused substitute.
What does this mean for the group standings?
The draw leaves both Huddersfield Town U21s and Swansea City U21s locked on four points at the top of Premier League Cup Group C. This sets up a fascinating return fixture, scheduled for November at the Accu Stadium. Before that, the two development sides are set to meet again next week in a Professional Development League encounter, adding another chapter to their growing rivalry.
A subplot to the match was the appearance of Tom Iorpenda for Swansea City. The midfielder played his first minutes for the Swans after completing a transfer from Huddersfield Town the previous week, facing his former teammates.
How does this fit with the senior team's form?
The positive result for the academy side comes as the senior Huddersfield Town team enjoys a strong start to the League One campaign. The first team currently sits second in the table with 11 points from five games, boasting a record of three wins and two draws. Their recent form reads DWWDW, and they have scored 10 goals while conceding just four, giving them a healthy +6 goal difference. They trail leaders Sheffield Wednesday by a single point in what is shaping up to be a tight title race. Fans can track the senior side's progress on the official standings page.
What's next for the U21 squad?
Attention now turns to the immediate rematch in the league. The young Terriers will look to build on this cup point when they host Swansea City again in the Professional Development League. Maintaining their position at the top of the Premier League Cup group will be a key objective for the remainder of the year. Supporters can follow the development squad's schedule and results alongside the senior fixtures. The squad used in South Wales, featuring a blend of experience and youth, is listed on the club's squad page.
