Managerless Huddersfield Town welcome Cardiff City to the John Smith's Stadium for their Championship encounter on Saturday.
While the hosts have won only one of their opening five home matches so far this season, the visitors have come out on top in only one of their first five away games.
Match preview
© Reuters
After just 69 days in charge, Huddersfield head coach Danny Schofield was relieved of his duties on Wednesday following their 2-1 home defeat against Wigan Athletic the night before.
Schofield was put in charge of the first team at the beginning of the season following the departure of Carlos Corberan in July, but he lost seven of his nine games at the helm and leaves the West Yorkshire outfit 23rd in the Championship table.
Former Terriers boss David Wagner is the current bookmakers' favourite to replace Schofield, but in the meantime, the club have confirmed that Narcis Pelach and Paul Harsley will lead the first team for this weekend's clash with Cardiff.
Having lost all three games away from home so far this term, Huddersfield will welcome the return to the John Smith's Stadium, where they beat their upcoming opponents Cardiff last season, winning 2-1 in February.
However, improvements in defence need to be made if they wish to turn their fortunes around as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their nine competitive matches this season.
© Reuters
As for Cardiff, they managed to end a six-game winless league run when they secured a 3-2 victory away at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
The Bluebirds raced into a three-goal lead in the opening 45 minutes at the Riverside Stadium courtesy of strikes from Callum O'Dowda, Mark Harris and Perry Ng, netting as many goals as in their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Boro pulled two goals back in the final 15 minutes of the second half, but Steve Morison's men held on to claim their third victory of the campaign.
Claiming maximum points in midweek will have provided Cardiff with a much needed boost, and they will now look to head into the international break on a high with another victory at the hands of Huddersfield, who the Bluebirds have beaten in four of their last six meetings.
Cardiff currently sit 15th in the Championship table, but a win on Saturday could see them move level on points with teams in the playoff positions.
- W
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- D
- L
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Huddersfield duo Matty Pearson and Tyreece Simpson are the club's only two injury concerns at present as they continue to recover from respective foot and knee problems.
It remains to be seen how Pelach and Harsley will set up the team this weekend, but they will likely continue with a 3-5-2 formation for the time being.
There could be alterations at wing-back with Kaine Kessler-Hayden and Josh Ruffels coming in for Oliver Turton and Yuta Nakayama respectively, while Chelsea loanee Tino Anjorin could be handed a start in the front three at the expense of Duane Holmes.
As for Cardiff, Morison has confirmed that midfielder Joe Ralls is ruled out of this weekend's game after picking up an injury in the win at Middlesbrough, while Jamilu Collins and Kion Etete remain sidelined with respective ACL and ankle problems
Romaine Sawyers is the most likely candidate to replace Ralls in the starting lineup, joining Ryan Wintle and Andy Rinomhota in centre-midfield.
Rubin Colwill and Sheyi Ojo will both be pushing to start, but Callum Robinson and Mark Harris are expected to continue in attack.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Lees, Helik, Mbete; Kessler-Hayden, Rudoni, Kasumu, Ruffels; Anjorin, Ward, Thomas
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Ng, Kipre, Simpson; Romero, Rinomhota, Wintle, Sawyers, O'Dowda; Harris, Robinson
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Cardiff City
The two sides head into Saturday's contest off the back of contrasting results in midweek, but there is pressure on Huddersfield as they already sit five points adrift of safety.
A response is expected from the Terriers, however, and we can see them securing a hard-fought point on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
