Both hoping to break three-game winless runs in the Championship, Huddersfield Town and Blackpool will square off in West Yorkshire on Sunday.
With just one win and four points from six games, the hosts sit 23rd in the league table, with their visitors four points better off in 15th spot.
Match preview
© Reuters
Heading into the new season under the management of Danny Schofield after the exit of Carlos Corberan and several key players over the summer, it may not be totally surprising that Huddersfield Town endured a slow start, losing 1-0 and 2-1 to Burnley and Birmingham City respectively in their opening two outings.
After a 4-1 beating at the hands of Preston North End in the EFL Cup first round, the Terriers were then able to put their first points on the board with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City, thanks to goals from Yuta Nakayama, Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes, but they have been unable to record another victory in three attempts since.
A defeat to Norwich City was then followed by a commendable 2-2 draw away at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, albeit with a twinge of disappointment as Tino Anjorin put them 2-0 up with a brace before Jed Wallace levelled the scoring with a double of his own.
Hoping to build on that point with another victory, Schofield's side travelled to Ashton Gate on Wednesday, but they trailed from the 35th minute following Nakhi Wells's goal, and Antoine Semenyo wrapped up a 2-0 victory for the Robins with a second 10 minutes from time.
With that defeat leaving them second-from-bottom with just four points, albeit with a game in hand on most sides above them, Huddersfield will now be desperate to put their struggles behind them and build a more positive run to begin climbing the table.
© Reuters
They take on a Blackpool side also vying to return to winning ways, having experienced a mixed campaign thus far under the new management of Michael Appleton following Neil Critchley's departure.
The Tangerines began with a win over Reading but would go on to suffer back-to-back league defeats at the hands of Stoke City and Swansea City either side of an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Barrow.
Appleton's men were then able to return to winning ways away at Queens Park Rangers, as Josh Bowler hit the only goal of the game before they travelled to Burnley and looked set to fall to a defeat, only for Jerry Yates and Shayne Lavery to find the net in the final 20 minutes to force a 3-3 draw and snatch a point.
On the back of that comeback, they hosted Bristol City and again came from behind to draw by the same scoreline, with Theo Corbeanu hitting a 90th-minute equaliser in that game, but Blackpool were unable to further to add to their points tally on Wednesday against Blackburn Rovers at Bloomfield Road.
Ben Brereton Diaz hit the only goal in that contest to condemn the Tangerines to a third league defeat of the campaign, and, now sitting 15th with eight points from seven outings, they will look to bounce back and climb into the top half with a victory at the weekend.
- L
- L
- W
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- W
- D
- D
- L
- L
- L
- W
- D
- D
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Huddersfield have several injuries to contend with, as David Kasumu and Matty Pearson are confined to the treatment room alongside new signings Michal Helik, Tyreece Simpson and Luke Mbete.
In Pearson's absence, Jonathan Hogg dropped into a back three for the trip to Bristol City, and he could again cover defensively alongside Yuta Nakayama and Tom Lees.
That leaves space in midfield for Jack Rudoni and Jon Russell, while Tino Anjorin and Sorba Thomas should again flank either Danny Ward or Jordan Rhodes in a front three.
Blackpool also have several enforced absences, with Lewis Fiorini and Charlie Patino out of contention in midfield while Jake Beesley, Keshi Anderson and Luke Garbutt are also sidelined.
Appleton has another forced change to make, as important winger Josh Bowler departed for Nottingham Forest on Thursday, with Leeds United loanee Ian Poveda set to come in in his place on the opposite side to Theo Corbeanu.
They will flank the attacking pairing of Gary Madine and Jerry Yates, with Callum Connolly again set to fill in alongside Kenny Dougall in the engine room.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Lees, Hogg, Nakayama; Turton, Rudoni, Russell, Ruffels; Thomas, Ward, Anjorin
Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Williams, Thompson; Corbeanu, Dougall, Connolly, Poveda; Madine, Yates
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Blackpool
While Huddersfield will see Sunday's game as one of their better opportunities to pick up crucial points, we see Blackpool's team as slightly stronger, even considering their injury issues, and expect the Tangerines to come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
