Two in-form teams will lock horns in League One on Tuesday evening, with Huddersfield Town welcoming Wigan Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium.
Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last seven league fixtures and sit fifth in the League One table, while Wigan have won their last two in the third tier to move into 15th position, now on 20 points from 16 matches.
Match preview
Huddersfield have not lost in League One since the start of October, winning five of their last seven matches, which has seen them rise into fifth spot in the table, boasting 29 points from 16 matches.
Michael Duff's side are only five points behind second-placed Wrexham with a game in hand, and they have been victorious in each of their last three games in all competitions, including their last two in the league against Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient.
The Terriers have been strong on home soil this season, picking up 18 points from eight matches, recording six wins in the process, and they will be hosting a Wigan outfit with only nine points to show from their eight away games this term.
Huddersfield were relegated from the Championship last season, and they are expected to challenge for an immediate return to the second tier, so it is not a surprise to see them currently in the playoff positions.
The Terriers have actually lost each of their last three matches against Wigan, including a 1-0 reverse when the two teams last locked horns in the Championship back in February 2003.
Wigan have only lost once to Huddersfield since January 2015, and they were 2-1 winners on their last visit to the John Smith's Stadium, which occurred back in September 2022.
Like Huddersfield, Wigan will enter this match in strong form, winning their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 success over Cambridge United in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Shaun Maloney's side fell behind in the 77th minute of the clash, but Thelo Aasgaard levelled the scores in the 85th minute before Jonny Smith came up with the winner in the 119th minute.
Wigan beat Northampton Town 2-1 in their last league fixture on November 26, and they are currently 15th in the table, picking up 20 points from their 16 matches courtesy of a record of five wins, five draws and six defeats.
The Latics have been excellent defensively this season, only conceding 13 times in 16 matches, which is the second-best defensive record in the division, but they have only managed to find the back of the opposition's net on 15 occasions.
Team News
Huddersfield head coach Duff could make one change to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Leyton Orient last time out, with Josh Ruffels likely to be introduced in place of Mickel Miller.
Josh Koroma has been in strong form this season, scoring five times in 14 appearances, and there will once again be a spot in the final third of the field for the 26-year-old in this match.
Ben Wiles has been the team's standout player this term, scoring six times and registering six assists in 21 appearances, and the Englishman is also a certain starter for Huddersfield here.
As for Wigan, head coach Maloney will make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Cambridge in the FA Cup, with Jonny Smith, Matt Smith and Jensen Weir expected to return.
Aasgaard has been in excellent form during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven times in 19 appearances, and the 22-year-old will feature in an attacking midfield role for the visitors.
Dale Taylor has only scored twice in 15 appearances this term, but the 20-year-old should again lead the Wigan line here.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Chapman; Lees, Helik, Lonwijk; Turton, Kisumu, Kane, Ruffels; Wiles; Radulovic, Koroma
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Tickle; Sibbick, Kerr, Aimson, Sessesgnon; J Smith, Weir, M Smith, Aasgaard, Thomas; Taylor
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-0 Wigan Athletic
It would not be a surprise to see the points shared on Tuesday, while Wigan will also fancy their chances of claiming all three points, but Huddersfield are in excellent form at the moment, and we are backing the hosts to secure a narrow victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
