Huddersfield Match Preview

It's fair to say that the lot down the M62, with their 88 year old stars above their badge, get rather more excited about this Yorkshire derby than we do. Their 'glory years' came as we were just being promoted to the First Division for the first time and since then Leeds have gone on to play on the biggest stage of football. These days though things are much more even and Saturdays game is even more important to Leeds with us perched precariously above the relegation zone.

Victory against Bournemouth saw Leeds edge up to 20th in the Championship table on 29 points ahead of Rotherham. Huddersfield are currently 15th in the table on 34 points. In the sports betting markets Huddersfield are favourites for the win at evens with Leeds at 3-1. A win tomorrow could see us move a couple of places up the table, lose and we'll still be looking over our shoulders.

In terms of head to heads the two teams have played each other 73 times over the years, 63 in the league. Huddersfield come out on top with 29 wins, 26 in the league to Leeds 25 wins, 20 in the league. There have been 19 draws between the two teams, 17 of those coming in the league. Honours have been fairly even over the past few years with each team taking their fait share of the spoils. Earlier this season Leeds ran out three nil winners at Elland Road with Austin, Antenucci and Doukara all grabbing goals. Last season Leeds impressively beat Huddersfield five one at Elland Road but lost three two at the John Smith's Stadium.

Huddersfield are the more in form team having won four of their last ten games, Leeds have only notched up two victories in their last ten games. Huddersfield come into the match with form of W-W-L-W, beating Wigan in their last game. Leeds have form of L-D-D-W but it is fair to say that they have been improving in recent games with good points against Bolton and Birmingham and perhaps one of their most impressive performances of the season to beat Bournemouth last time out. The players will take encouragement and confidence from their recent revival ahead of Saturdays derby.

Central midfielder Jonathan Hogg is a doubt for Huddersfield though David Edgar, on loan from Birmingham City, could retain his place in the side having made his debut in the victory against Wigan. In the Leeds camp Steve Morison had picked up a knock in the last game though Neil Redfearn expects him to be fit. He was pivitol to the system we played against Bournemouth and if he is not available Redfearn would have to have a rethink of the system.

The biggest dilemma for the Leeds boss is in defence with Giuseppe Bellusci starting a two game ban and Jason Pearce having departed for Wigan. Scott Wootton could move into the middle with Gaetano Berardi playing out wide though new signing Sol Bamba could slot straight into the centre of defence. The other new addition to the squad Granddi Ngoyi is expected to be named amongst the team but with Austins rumoured move to Wigan failing to appear it is likely he will retain his place in the starting eleven.

With confidence in the team high at the moment, form improving and the squad having been bolstered by couple of new signings tomorrow could be a great chance to take the spoils in West Yorkshire derby. The game may usually mean more to the Huddersfield fans but tomorrow is crucial for Leeds as we try to ensure our safety from relegation.