MX23RW : Sunday, May 5 02:01:04| >> :120:12209:12209:
[monks data]
Huddersfield logo
Championship
Aug 23, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Charlton Athletic

1-1

Wells (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Vetokele (92')

Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Charlton Athletic

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship encounter between Huddersfield and in-form Charlton at the John Smith's Stadium.

Despite being tipped by many to be embroiled in another relegation battle this season, Charlton Athletic have so far defied the pre-season predictions and remain unbeaten in the Championship.

Jose Riga was the man who kept the Addicks in the division last term, but it is his fellow Belgian Bob Peeters who has led his side to such an impressive start this time around.

But for a late equaliser by Brentford on the opening day of the campaign, Charlton would boast a perfect record having since toppled automatic promotion candidates Wigan Athletic and Derby County in quick succession.

On paper, Saturday's trip to face managerless Huddersfield Town appears to be an easier test than those two matches, but the Addicks will not have home advantage this time around following three consecutive outings at The Valley.

Even so, for a team that struggled so much in front of goal last season, scoring just 41 times in 46 matches, to have netted six times in the league and 10 times in all competitions will fill Peeters with confidence that his side have the firepower to keep them safe this year.

Perhaps even more pleasing for the Belgian boss will be the fact that the six goals have been spread around the team, with five different players getting on the scoresheet.

Igor Vetokele is the only player to have scored more than once for the club this season, and he is again expected to start alongside George Tucudean up front after the Romanian opened his own account on Tuesday.

By contrast, Huddersfield suffered a nightmare start to the season, losing 4-0 to Bournemouth on the opening day, parting company with manager Mark Robins and then being beaten 3-1 by Cardiff City last weekend.

Things were certainly looking grim for the Yorkshire outfit, but they somehow managed to bounce back and claim an impressive 2-1 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday.

That result will certainly raise spirits at the John Smith's Stadium as the club continue their search for a new manager, with Mark Lillis currently in his third spell as caretaker boss.

Lillis has ruled himself out of the running for the job on a permanent basis, however, while Neil Warnock has also reportedly refused the chance to become the club's next manager.

Interestingly, former Charlton boss Chris Powell has become the new favourite to take over the reins, but it is unlikely that any new boss will be appointed in time to have an impact this weekend.

The problems in Huddersfield have by no means been fixed by the victory over Reading, but it will give the side plenty of confidence going into their clash with in-form Charlton this weekend.

The Terriers will also be desperate to redeem themselves in front of their own fans, with this being their first match at home since the drubbing at the hands of Bournemouth.

Recent form

Huddersfield: LWLW

Charlton: DWWW

Possible starting lineups

Huddersfield: Smithies; Smith, Wallace, Lynch, Dixon; Hogg, Coady, Scannell, Butterfield; Wells, Bunn

Charlton: Pope; Gomez, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Tucudean, Vetokele

Sports Mole says: 0-0


ID:172337: cacheID:172337:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6731:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds manager Neil Warnock looks on prior to the npower Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United at Pride Park on December 8, 2012
Read Next:
Warnock 'rejects Huddersfield approach'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!