By Ben Abel-Lockyer –
Huddersfield host Swansea City in the EFL Championship this Saturday at the John Smith’s Stadium. Kick-off 3 pm
Team News
Coming off the back of a much-needed win in West London against Queens Park Rangers in the midweek, the terriers will be going into the last Sky Bet EFL fixture before the Qatar World Cup with a bit of restored confidence and belief that they can turn their fortunes around.
The game against QPR on Tuesday saw sparks of that terrier spirit and resilience that made Huddersfield so difficult to beat last season. It was a fast start to the game as Lyndon Dykes put the hosts in front with a first-time finish inside the six-yard box.
However, Town were undeterred and came back with 2 brilliant goals from an unlikely source in left-back Josh Ruffels, including a spectacular overhead kick from the edge of the box which looped up and over the keeper into the back of the net.
In Huddersfield Town’s Head Coach Mark Fotheringham’s post-match interview, he emphasised the importance of building some momentum; in order to fight their way back out of the relegation places. The Terriers will have no better opportunity to do so than this weekend, facing visitors Swansea City, who go into this fixture off the back of one win in five.
It is expected the terriers will consist of another youthful-looking starting 11 to cover the cracks of a staggering injury list.
Swansea City
Unlike town, Swansea have enjoyed a slightly more dignifying start campaign. The swans have won nine, drawn six and lost seven, which leaves them 8th in the league table. After the world cup break, they’ll be pushing hard for a coveted play-off spot, and a way back into the Premier League for the first time since 2018.
They are certainly a team you can’t take lightly; Huddersfield will have to be on their game in order to get a result in this challenging encounter. The Welsh team play some attractive attacking football, playing through above or around the opposition team as well as building from the back.
In Swansea’s last game they played another hard-to-beat championship side, Birmingham City. It seemed to be three points for Swansea, until 34-year-old veteran Troy Deeney scored in the 89th minute to give Birmingham a point at St Andrew’s stadium.
One to watch
Michael Obafemi had an impressive return of 11 goals in 34 appearances in the 2021-22 season for former employees Southampton. Since joining Swansea in the summer he has shown that he is a powerful, direct, pacey striker.
Predictions
Mark Fotheringham stated in his post-match interview that this will be a game which will depend very much so on the West Yorkshire crowd getting behind the lads from the first whistle which will have a big factor to play in this one, but I think with a bit of luck and cohesion in the defensive ranks once again that town will come away with the victory. Therefore I predict…
My personal prediction for this game is going to be 1-0 or 2-1 to Huddersfield.