Preview: Preston North End vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Two in-form sides meet at Deepdale on Wednesday, when fifth-placed Huddersfield Town travel to face Preston North End, who currently sit four points outside the Championship playoff places.

The visitors have put together a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions and will be looking to continue that this week, while Preston have only lost once in their last nine second-tier matches.

Match preview

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Ryan Lowe's side only needed a single strike from Cameron Archer to secure a 1-0 win against Hull City on Saturday, keeping their second consecutive clean sheet.

Being one of the few teams in the Championship who have already completed 30 fixtures this season, the majority of the teams around Preston have games in hand, meaning that the Lilywhites must keep winning to avoid being leapfrogged by any sides below them or losing ground on the top six.

After three of their last four matches came away from home, Preston will be glad to be back at Deepdale on Wednesday, having only lost twice on their own patch this season, currently on a five-game unbeaten run on home soil.

Lowe's side have conceded more goals than all of the teams above them, highlighting the importance of their recent back-to-back clean sheets, but keeping Huddersfield out will be a tricky test this week.

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Huddersfield are in fine form ahead of this encounter, and progressed into the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with a 1-0 win against fellow Championship outfit Barnsley.

Duane Holmes struck in the 19th minute of that game, and despite going on to create more chances, the Terriers only needed that single strike as they limited their visitors to no shots on target.

Carlos Corberan's side were helped during their last Championship outing, with Derby County's Richard Stearman being sent off in just the third minute, allowing Huddersfield to go on to claim three points courtesy of a 2-0 win.

Likewise to their hosts this Wednesday, Huddersfield have also reached the 30-game mark this season, and they only sit three points above Middlesbrough, who occupy seventh spot and have two games in hand on the Terriers.

The reverse of this fixture was a closely-fought affair, with Sepp van den Berg's unfortunate own goal the only difference between these sides in August, when Huddersfield secured a 1-0 win at the John Smith's Stadium.

Team News

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Josh Murphy, who is on loan to Preston from Cardiff City, has not featured since October and he will remain absent from the squad on Wednesday, but is nearing a return from his ankle injury.

Midfielder Isaiah Brown has not yet had the opportunity to play for the Lilywhites since joining the club from Chelsea in the summer, and he is unlikely to face his former club on this week, but could return from injury later this month.

The home team are likely to operate in their usual 3-4-1-2 formation, with Aston Villa loanee Archer looking to continue his good start to life in a Preston shirt, alongside Ched Evans up front.

Huddersfield's Faustino Anjorin, who is on loan from Chelsea, will not feature for his new club until next month as he continues to recover from a broken ankle.

Alex Vallejo, Levi Colwill and Ronaldo Aarons could all make their returns from injury this month, but Wednesday's outing will have come too soon for the trio to play their part.

Right-back Pipa was forced off after just 30 minutes last time out in the FA Cup, meaning that Oliver Turton could come back into the starting lineup this week.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Hughes, Bauer, Van den Berg; Cunningham, Whiteman, Ledson, Potts; McCann; Archer, Evans

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Toffolo, Lees, Pearson, Turton; Holmes, O'Brien, Hogg, Thomas; Ward, Sinani

We say: Preston North End 1-2 Huddersfield Town

Both sides are in good form heading into this clash, but Huddersfield have managed to maintain their form for longer, and being in a playoff position, they will not want to lose points against a team that has the potential to catch them.

Wednesday's outing is likely to be a close affair, with both teams in hunting for the same end goal this season, but the visitors may just have enough momentum to edge this one.

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