Huddersfield Town play host to Bristol City on Tuesday evening knowing that victory is required to get back into contention to avoid relegation from the Championship.

At a time when the Terriers sit bottom of the standings and seven points adrift of safety, the Robins are 14th after seeing their long unbeaten league run come to an end on Saturday.

Match preview

© Reuters

When Neil Warnock begun his second Huddersfield reign with victory over Birmingham City, there was a feeling that the veteran boss had injected some much-needed belief behind the scenes at the John Smith's Stadium.

However, successive 4-0 defeats to Burnley and Coventry City have told a different story, particularly the latter as the Terriers made individual mistakes and capitulated in front of their own supporters.

With Cardiff City and Rotherham United both winning on Saturday, Huddersfield now find themselves cut adrift from 21st spot with just 12 matches of their season remaining.

The fixture list is unforgiving as far as Huddersfield are concerned with West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Millwall to follow in the matches after Tuesday's game.

With all but 10 of their points this season coming on familiar territory, it leaves Warnock and his squad under pressure to bounce back on Tuesday if their campaign is to not peter out over the coming weeks.

© Reuters

As far as Bristol City are concerned, Nigel Pearson had been hoping that a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City would be quickly shaken off given that they still possessed an unbeaten streak in the Championship which had lasted since the end of 2022.

Instead, his side went down to a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff in South Wales, both goals coming in the second half as Bristol City lost an away game in the Championship for the first time since October.

The Robins also saw their nine-match unbeaten run come to an end, leaving the club 11 points adrift of the playoffs yet still holding a match in hand on many of the teams above them.

Such a scenario effectively leaves Bristol City facing a must-win contest at the home of the division's bottom-placed side, but they have prevailed in just one of their most recent five fixtures on the road.

Team News

© Reuters

Jaheim Headley will miss out for Huddersfield after suffering a hamstring injury during the early stages versus Coventry.

Ben Jackson is expected to return to the squad to deputise at left wing-back, and further alterations are expected given the manner of their latest setback.

Brahima Diarra could make just his third start of the campaign in midfield, while Jordan Rhodes may return to the attack.

Joe Williams and Tomas Kalas have joined Bristol City's injury list, leaving Pearson to make at least two alterations to his Bristol City XI.

Cameron Pring is likely to play in the unfamiliar role of centre-back, allowing Jay Dasilva to come in at left-back, while Andy King could take the spot of Williams.

That would allow Andreas Weimann to be used further forward, although the Austrian may line up alongside Matty James in a deeper role.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Bilokapic; Lees, Helik, Pearson; Lowton, Rudoni, Hogg, Diarra, Jackson; Ward, Rhodes

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Pring, Dasilva; James, Weimann; Sykes, Scott, Bell; Wells

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-3 Bristol City

If Huddersfield are to avoid relegation to League One, they simply have to take advantage of home fixtures such as this one. However, confidence is low in the Terriers squad, and we expect Bristol City to take full advantage at the John Smith's Stadium.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email