Two sides who have had tricky starts to the 2015-16 campaign in the Championship go head to head at the John Smith's Stadium this weekend as Huddersfield Town host Bolton Wanderers.
Both sides have secured just one win from their first seven outings of the season, leaving them in the bottom half of the table.
Huddersfield Town
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Chris Powell's side finally clinched their opening victory of the campaign last time out, beating Charlton Athletic in their midweek outing at The Valley to move out of the relegation zone for the first time in three weeks.
Emyr Huws and Harry Bunn were both on the scoresheet for the Terriers as they scored more than once for the first time this season, lifting them up to 20th in the table, just three points behind 11th-placed Reading.
Despite the win, Huddersfield are still without a victory on home soil since beating Ipswich Town back in April, but they have two chances to end that run before the international break, as they host Nottingham Forest a couple of days after this match.
Huddersfield are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season, conceding nine goals so far. They have struggled at the other end of the pitch as well, netting just five times. Only Preston North End and this weekend's opponents have scored fewer.
The team's poor run of form at the start of the season had resulted in question marks over Powell's position at the club, but the manager has insisted that he never feared for his job.
The team have been taking advantage of the re-opening of the loan window over the last week, signing goalkeeper Jed Steer from Aston Villa and Bournemouth defender Elliott Ward.
Recent form: DDDLLW
Bolton Wanderers
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After failing to win in their first four matches of the campaign, Bolton have turned around their form either side of the international break, with a goalless draw against Sheffield Wednesday last time out leaving them unbeaten in four.
That result came following their first win of the season last week, with Zach Clough and Liam Feeney scoring in a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Neil Lennon's side have struggled away from the Macron Stadium so far this season, having picked up just one point from three away matches, while they remain unbeaten at home.
Points away from home have been hard to come by during 2015 for Bolton. They have won just twice since the start of the year, with the last victory coming in April, when Craig Davies scored twice in a win at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The Trotters' defenders have been strong at the back this season, with three clean sheets so far, which is the joint-highest number in the division, conceding just six goals. Scoring has been the team's big problem though, as they have found the back of the net just three times, failing to score in five of their matches so far.
The club have been linked with a move for former Bolton man Kevin Nolan, who is a free agent after being released by West Ham United last month, but the manager has admitted that the midfielder could be too pricey.
Recent form: LLDDWD
Team News
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Bolton will be without Zach Clough for the trip after he picked up a shoulder injury in the draw with Sheffield Wednesday earlier this week, which will need surgery.
The visitors already had a number of players out before the young striker was hurt, with Dorian Dervite and Darren Pratley struggling with ankle injuries, while Max Clayton remains out with a knee problem, and David Wheater is struggling with a calf problem.
Powell could give Emyr Huws a longer stint after he came through 45 minutes during the week while continuing to build his match fitness after joining on a season-long loan.
For the hosts, Joe Murphy, Mark Hudson and James Vaughan are all still missing, while Jonathan Hogg is a doubt after missing the trip to Charlton with an ankle injury.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Steer, Cranie, Ward, Lynch, Davidson, Scannell, Whitehead, Huws, Miller, Bunn, Wells
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Amos, Wilson, Gouano, Spearing, Moxey, Davies, Danns, Feeney, Dobbie, Da Silva, Madine
Head To Head
When the sides last met at the John Smith's Stadium in December last year, it was the home side who secured the win, just a month after Bolton clinched a home win in the reverse fixture.
Bolton have lost just two of their last 10 meetings with Huddersfield, but both victories for the Terriers have come in the last two seasons.
In 66 previous meetings between the two sides, Bolton have the marginally better record, securing 31 wins to Huddersfield's 26, while just nine fixtures have ended in draws.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Both sides have struggled to get going this season, but since the international break have shown improved form, so will both be hoping to get something from this fixture. With Huddersfield's leaky defence and Bolton's struggles to find the back of the net, a draw seems the most likely outcome.
Sian Cowper
