Southampton vs. Huddersfield Town: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 1 day
Southampton will try to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship when they host Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
While the Saints are second in the standings, Huddersfield are 21st, despite having pulled together their own four-match unbeaten streak.
Although Southampton considered parting ways with Russell Martin after a four-game losing skid earlier this season, he has since demonstrated that he is the right man to lead the team back to the Premier League.
Last weekend’s 2-0 victory away to Rotherham United made it 21 games without defeat in the Championship, as
Following months of resistance from Ipswich Town, the Saints’ recent run of seven victories in eight games has finally been enough to propel them into the top two.
As it stands, a resurgent Leeds are their biggest opponents for second place behind runaway champions Leicester City, but Southampton will concentrate on their own performances and results rather than fretting about rivals.
Southampton also hopes to advance in the FA Cup, with a 3-0 victory over Watford in their replay on Tuesday night securing a fifth-round tie at Liverpool.
Huddersfield are massive underdogs to win anything from their long trip to St Mary’s, but they are in the finest shape they have been in in some time.
Caretaker manager Jon Worthington attended the Terriers’ 4-0 triumph against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the John Smith’s Stadium last Saturday.
While it halted a six-game winless streak, it also extended a four-game unbeaten streak after three draws in a row.
Huddersfield, just two points below 16th-placed Millwall, will see an opportunity on Saturday, despite facing opponents who have won ten consecutive home games in all competitions.
After making multiple changes for the FA Cup replay against Watford, Martin is expected to return to the starting lineup from the Rotherham encounter.
Despite scoring twice against the Hornets, Sekou Mara would be relegated to the bench, while David Brooks would have to wait for a chance after joining on loan from Bournemouth.
Joe Aribo is out of contention for Southampton, as Nigeria has advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Following Rhys Healey’s injury against Sheffield Wednesday, Ben Wiles appears to be the most likely candidate to join the Huddersfield team.
Bojan Radulovic, who was substituted before Huddersfield’s four-goal haul, may preserve his place in the attack, while Yuta Nakayama, Jack Rudoni, and David Kasumu return from recent absences.
Southampton’s likely starting lineup: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Smallbone, Downes, S. Armstrong; A. Armstrong, Adams, Fraser.
Huddersfield Town’s potential starting lineup: Nicholls; Pearson, Balker, Lees, Spencer; Matos, Hogg, Wiles; Thomas, Radulovic, Koroma.
Leave a Reply