Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides come into the game at the John Smith's Stadium on the back of defeats at the weekend, with the Terriers in the relegation zone and eight points behind mid-table Preston.

Match preview

It has been quite the downward spiral in the five months since the playoff final in May for Huddersfield, who fell to an eighth defeat of the season against Rotherham United at the weekend.

Danny Ward had equalised for struggling Town after Conor Washington had put the hosts ahead, but a second-half strike from Georgie Kelly earned the Millers the three points.

New manager Mark Fotheringham has now overseen two defeats to go with one draw and one win in his four games in charge, since he replaced Danny Schofield at the end of September.

Fotheringham's solitary victory did come at home, though, in a somewhat surprisingly comfortable 2-0 win against Hull City, which should give the Terriers' fans confidence ahead of Tuesday's game.

The uninspiring performances have yielded 21 goals conceded - the third worst in the league - and, despite scoring 16 times, they have rarely looked threatening in the opposition half.

The last meeting between the two sides will haunt the memories of the Huddersfield supporters, when the Lilywhites demolished a hapless Town 4-1 in the EFL Cup earlier this season.

Preston stuttered slightly last week, losing both of their games including Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home against Ex-North End boss Alex Neil's Stoke City.

Goals from William Smallbone and Tyrese Campbell in the second half secured the win for Stoke, as Preston conceded two at home for just the second time this season.

The well-documented defensive stability has taken a hit as of late, conceding six across the last three games having started the season with nine clean sheets in their opening 12 games.

Despite that, Preston still have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded two fewer than their table-topping Lancashire rivals Burnley, but have scored the least amount of goals with just eight - Coventry City are the only other team in single digits and they have played four games fewer than the Lilywhites.

Ryan Lowe's team's last win did come on the road - the win against Norwich City earlier this month - and they have been far better away from Deepdale this season, picking up 12 of their 19 points on their travels.

Huddersfield Town Championship form:

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Preston North End Championship form:

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Team News

Huddersfield are still without a whole host of key players, including Chelsea loanee Tino Anjorin, who is still suffering with glandular fever.

Jonathan Hogg missed Saturday's defeat with a calf injury so is most likely to miss out again here, as is Pat Jones and Will Boyle with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Matty Pearson is still out with a long-term knee issue, but summer signing Tyreece Simpson is edging closer to a return from the knee injury that has kept him away from the team since his arrival.

Troy Parrott is missing until December for Preston, and Daniel Johnson and Liam Lindsay will be assessed before the game after missing the Stoke defeat with minor injuries.

Brad Potts, who scored in the EFL Cup win earlier this season, was a second-half substitute and could come back into the starting lineup in place of Alan Browne at right-wing back.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Nicholls; Lees, Helik, Nakayama; Thomas, Kasumu, Camara, Jackson; Rudoni; Rhodes, Ward

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Diaby, Hughes; Potts, McCann, Whiteman, Fernandez; Brady; Maguire, Riis

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Preston North End

Huddersfield have struggled to break down almost every defence they have come up against this season, so will almost definitely struggle against the toughest of the lot.

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