Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Midweek Championship action includes Huddersfield Town hosting Blackburn Rovers at the John Smith's Stadium on Tuesday, with the sides separated by just one place in the table.

However, the hosts have begun to struggle as of late after a bright start, whilst the visitors come into this one off the back of a huge win at the weekend.

Match preview

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The outlook and the mood at Huddersfield has drastically changed in recent weeks, after defeats in three of the last four matches since returning from the international break.

Prior to the break, the Terriers had won three league games on the bounce, which included a 4-0 hammering of Reading and just the one goal conceded in the process.

However, since then, performances and results have taken an alarming turn for the worse. Town suddenly seem to lack many ideas in attacking areas and appear very reliant on chances from set-piece situations.

Supporters have grown frustrated with these recent displays and are concerned with manager Carlos Corberan's lack of willingness to adapt and freshen games up with a change of style or personnel.

Last time out was the perfect example of these struggles of late. Huddersfield fell 1-0 to Swansea City at the weekend and were dominated for large periods of the game, with a particularly poor showing in attacking areas.

Corberan's side rarely threatened their opponents throughout and even failed to manage a shot of any kind in the first half. Although the second half saw a slight improvement, the performance levels remained well below those that were achieved just a few weeks earlier.

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As for the visitors, the mood around the club is far brighter than it is at their midweek opponents.

Just the one defeat in the league after the opening nine matches, which was to high-flying West Bromwich Albion, was topped off with a fantastic display last time out against Cardiff City.

Rovers thrashed their visitors 5-1 on Saturday, with some mouth-watering displays from the attacking trio of Sam Gallagher, Tyrhys Dolan and Ben Brereton Diaz helping them on their way to a thoroughly impressive performance.

The trio were involved in all five goals, which included a hat-trick for key man Brereton Diaz, and they caused problems for Cardiff throughout with their fluidity and pace on the counter-attack when they broke.

Manager Tony Mowbray will now be hoping his young side can turn some of their draws into wins, as they look to push for an unlikely promotion to the Premier League, although the experienced man will certainly focus on just one game at a time in order to keep his players grounded.

Rovers will also be hopeful that the 5-2 win over Huddersfield in their last meeting back in April - their first over them in 10 encounters - is another positive that his players can take into Tuesday's game, to add to their confidence even further.

Team News

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Huddersfield will remain without at least four players for the visit of Blackburn on Tuesday.

Two long-term absentees Jordan Rhodes and Pipa will be out for another couple of months at least, whilst young forwards Daniel Grant and Aaron Rowe continue to work their way back to fitness with the B team.

Goalkeeper Ryan Schofield may not be risked again after back problems as of late, and although he was first-choice at the beginning of the season, Lee Nicholls has thrust him from the number one spot anyway.

Key man Lewis O'Brien took a knock late on at Swansea at the weekend, so his availability remains to be seen.

As for Blackburn, three long-term absentees remain unavailable for Tony Mowbray on Tuesday.

Key man Bradley Dack continues his latest spell on the sidelines from a serious knee injury, whilst Scott Wharton and Jan Paul van Hecke are also out yet again.

Joe Rankin-Costello and Bradley Johnson have also been missing for long periods, and although they are nearing their returns after some matches for the reserves lately, they are unlikely to be risked yet.

Central defender Darragh Lenihan was substituted early in the second half against Cardiff at the weekend due to an apparent groin issue, so doubts linger over the possibility of him featuring.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Pearson, Lees, Colwill; Thomas, Hogg, O'Brien, Toffolo; Holmes, Koroma; Ward

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Ayala, Lenihan, Pickering; Travis, Rothwell; Gallagher, Buckley, Brereton Diaz; Dolan

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Blackburn Rovers

We think Blackburn will just have enough to see off Huddersfield on Tuesday. Confidence will be high in the Rovers camp and they have an opportunity to capitalise on their hosts' struggles of late, although it is sure to be far from straightforward.

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