Preston North End vs. Huddersfield Town- preview and prediction – team news, and lineups
Match preview
On Saturday, Ryan Lowe’s team needed only a single goal from Cameron Archer to beat Hull City 1-0 and keep their second consecutive clean sheet.
Because Preston is one of the few teams in the Championship with 30 games finished, the majority of the clubs surrounding them have games in hand, meaning the Lilywhites must maintain winning to avoid being leapfrogged by teams behind them or losing ground on the top six.
Preston will be pleased to be back at Deepdale on Wednesday after playing three of their past four games away from home, where they have only lost twice all season and are now on a five-game undefeated run.
Preston will be pleased to be back at Deepdale today after playing three of their past four games away from home, where they have only lost twice all season and are now on a five-game undefeated run.
Huddersfield are in excellent form ahead of this match, having advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over fellow Championship side Barnsley on Saturday.
In that game, Duane Holmes scored in the 19th minute, and despite creating more chances, the Terriers only needed that one goal to limit their opponents to no shots on target.
Carlos Corberan’s side was given a helping hand in their most recent Championship match, as Derby County’s Richard Stearman was sent off in the third minute, allowing Huddersfield to win 2-0.
Huddersfield, like their host this evening, has played 30 games this season and is only three points ahead of Middlesbrough, who are in seventh place and have two games in hand on the Terriers.
Team News
Josh Murphy, on loan from Cardiff City to Preston, has not played since October and will be absent from the squad on Wednesday, but he is close to returning from an ankle injury.
Isaiah Brown, who joined the club from Chelsea in the summer, has yet to play for the Lilywhites, and he is unlikely to face his previous team this week, though he could return from injury later this month.
The hosts are expected to play in their standard 3-4-1-2 configuration, with Aston Villa loanee Archer hoping to build on his promising start in a Preston shirt partnering Ched Evans up attack.
Faustino Anjorin, who is on loan from Chelsea, will not make his debut for Huddersfield until next month as he recovers from a broken ankle.
Alex Vallejo, Levi Colwill, and Ronaldo Aarons are all expected to return from injury this month, but Wednesday’s game will be too soon for them to contribute.
Oliver Turton could return to the starting lineup this week after right-back Pipa was pulled out after only 30 minutes last time out in the FA Cup.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Hughes, Bauer, Van den Berg; Cunningham, Whiteman, Ledson, Potts; McCann; Archer, Evans
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Toffolo, Lees, Pearson, Turton; Holmes, O’Brien, Hogg, Thomas; Ward, Sinani
Head-to-Head
Our Predictions: Away Win or Draw
Both teams are in terrific form heading into this match, but Huddersfield has managed to keep their form for longer, and with a playoff spot on the line, they will not want to lose points against a team that could catch them.
With both teams chasing the same end goal this season, Wednesday’s matchup is sure to be close, but the visitors may just have enough momentum to win.
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