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

Huddersfield Town head into Saturday's Championship encounter with Middlesbrough sitting three points adrift of the playoff places.

Meanwhile, having failed to win any of their last five fixtures, Boro have dropped down to 15th position in the standings.

Match preview

© Reuters

There have been times this season when Huddersfield have looked ready to establish themselves as a top-six team, particularly having impressed during the opening weeks of the season.

However, the Terriers have not recorded back-to-back league wins since the end of August, their latest failed attempt coming on Wednesday as they lost 1-0 to playoff rivals Queens Park Rangers.

Having failed to win away from home since September 14, the defeat hardly came as a surprise, but Carlos Corberan would have been frustrated to concede a goal nine minutes from time.

Huddersfield are now back down in eighth position, three points adrift of sixth-placed Stoke City, and there is extra pressure on maintaining their superb run at the John Smith's Stadium.

The Yorkshire outfit have collected 13 points from a possible 15, Corberan's side keeping clean sheets in each of their last four home fixtures.

© Reuters

Chris Wilder would have had high hopes of starting his Middlesbrough reign with at least four points ahead of home matches with Millwall and Preston North End.

However, the newly-appointed boss has quickly discovered that all is not perfect at the Riverside Stadium, a 1-1 draw being followed by a 2-1 reverse on Tuesday.

Conceding two late goals in the latter of those games could be put down to tiredness with Wilder opting against making any alterations from the weekend.

Boro's season is now at somewhat of a crossroads, the margin to the playoffs and relegation zone both standing at eight points, and he will be desperate for a reaction from his players on Saturday.

Despite possessing one of the poorer away records in the division, Middlesbrough have still collected four points from their last three games on unfamiliar territory.

Team News

© Reuters

Corberan will likely make a number of changes to his Huddersfield XI, including handing a recall to Sorba Thomas.

Fraizer Campbell may get the nod ahead of Danny Ward in attack, but Ademipo Odubeko is expected to remain on the substitutes' bench.

Despite passing a late fitness test on Tuesday, Duncan Watmore was off the pace and will likely drop off out of the side.

Uche Ikpeazu could be given an opportunity in the final third, as may Onel Hernandez in one of the wing-back roles.

Josh Coburn is a candidate in attack if Wilder opts asking risking Andraz Sporar, who also needed to undergo a fitness test earlier this week.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Pearson, Lees, Colwill; Thomas, High, O'Brien, Toffolo; Sinani, Koroma; Campbell

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Daniels; McNair, Samba, Peltier; Jones, Crooks, Tavernier, Howson, Hernandez; Ikpeazu, Sporar

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-0 Middlesbrough

With both teams needing a response for different reasons, we expect a competitive clash at the John Smith's Stadium. One goal could settle this contest, and we are going to back the Terriers to edge this game in the closing stages.

Previews by email