Both returning to action after a layoff over the international break, Huddersfield Town and Bristol Rovers will square off at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts ended a losing run with an important victory prior to the break to move back up to ninth spot in the League One table, while their visitors are just two points worse off after back-to-back wins of their own.
Match preview
© Imago
Huddersfield Town return to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday aiming to make it back-to-back wins in League One, having bounced back from a dismal run prior to the recent international break.
After suffering relegation from the Championship last time around, the Yorkshire outfit set out to bounce back under the new management of Michael Duff this season, and they enjoyed a pleasing start, only to suffer four consecutive defeats between mid-September and the beginning of October.
Across losses to Northampton Town, Blackpool, Reading and Birmingham City, the Terriers conceded eight goals and only scored two, but they were finally able to bounce back to winning ways in a Yorkshire derby at home to Barnsley, as Ben Wiles and David Kasumu fired them to a 2-0 triumph with goals in the final 10 minutes.
Duff's men would then make it back-to-back wins heading into the break in a repeat fixture in the EFL Trophy, again hosting Barnsley and prevailing by two goals to nil with Freddie Ladapo and Danny Ward on the scoresheet.
Having rebuilt a degree of confidence with those results after their slump, and still only trailing League One's top six by a single point at this early stage of the term, Huddersfield Town will look to make it three home wins on the bounce and two in the league on Saturday to move closer to the leading pack.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, travel north aiming to extend an improvement of their own prior to the break.
Beginning a first full season under the management of Matt Taylor, Bristol Rovers endured a tough start, as their own four-match losing streak left them on seven points from eight outings.
The Gas then faced a tough test at home to Charlton Athletic in their bid to get back to winning ways, but they succeeded in a dramatic contest, having initially led 3-0 through Scott Sinclair, Jamie Lindsay and James Wilson before standing strong to take all three points after Alex Mitchell and Matt Godden pulled their visitors back into the game late on.
A trip to Burton Albion then followed, and after falling behind to an early Danilo Orsi goal, Taylor's men would again produce three goals to prevail as Shaq Forde, Clinton Mola and Grant Ward got on the scoresheet in the second half.
While they did head into the break on the back of a 4-0 EFL Trophy beating at the hands of Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers should certainly feel rejuvenated from their back-to-back league victories following their slow start, and they will now aim to continue their climb up the League One table with a third straight three-point haul on their return on Saturday.
Team News
© Imago
Huddersfield Town will remain without centre-back Michal Helik on their return to action due to a long-term injury, and despite competition from Tom Lees, Michael Duff could again field a back three of Brodie Spencer, Matty Pearson and Nigel Lonwijk.
Indeed, the Terriers have options all over the pitch, with Antony Evans, Jonathan Hogg and Herbie Kane all hoping to earn starting spots in midfield after Joe Hodge, Ben Wiles and David Kasumu were preferred for their last league outing against Barnsley, with Hodge having since picked up an injury.
Forward Josh Koroma will also continue a spell in the treatment room, leaving Freddie Ladapo, Bojan Radulovic and Callum Marshall to compete to start up front.
Matt Taylor could again field an unchanged Bristol Rovers starting XI after their back-to-back league wins before the international break, with Joel Senior and Chris Martin remaining confined to the treatment room.
Shaq Forde does have a claim to come into the attack from the outset after scoring their leveller off the bench against Burton Albion, but the Gas should stick with a front three of Scott Sinclair and summer signings Promise Omochere and Ruel Sotiriou.
Grant Ward may also have to settle for another substitute appearance with Jamie Lindsay and Kamil Conteh preferred in the engine room, while Clinton Mola, Connor Taylor and James Wilson will continue in a back three.
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Spencer, Pearson, Lonwijk; Sorensen, Evans, Kasumu, Wiles, Miller; Marshall, Ladapo
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Wilson, Taylor, Mola; Hunt, Lindsay, Conteh, Bilongo; Sinclair, Omochere, Sotiriou
We say: Huddersfield Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Huddersfield Town certainly face a tough test on Saturday against a rejuvenated Bristol Rovers side, but with renewed confidence from their return to winning ways before the break, we see the Terriers having the quality to get the better of their visitors at the John Smith's Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
