While the majority of the pyramid have an incurable case of FA Cup fever this weekend, those who couldn’t quite get over the line into the third round still have to do their chores and fulfil their league fixtures. Chin up though, it’s a great opportunity to get some points on the board and pile the pressure on teams around you now they’ll have to play catchup. And who says the FA Cup boys have to have all the fun? It’s 4th versus 6th in League One as the Terriers travel to the Hatters with both looking to cement their place in the play-offs with one eye on reeling in the automatic places. With so much to play for, it had to be this week’s preview!
Stockport and Huddersfield were amongst the early favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked and, despite both having their wobbles, now the dust has begun to settle they’re both showing their credentials as top sides in this division.
They’re sitting in 6th and 4th respectively, both on 39 points and just 9 points from Lincoln in the automatic promotion places. A victory in this game would see them edge closer to the top two, and they’ll both have their sights set on that position. If they’re going to look up and dream of second, they also need to be wary of dropping down. If they look over their shoulder for who are 9 points away in the opposite direction they’ll find Plymouth down in 16th, the whole division is so tightly packed this year that anyone can put a little run together (of wins or defeats) and find themselves at the complete opposite end of the table to where they started.
They both need a win to keep up the fight for automatic promotion and avoid being dragged into the mid-table slug fest. It’s crunch time in this weeks’ preview!
Form:
In their last five games, Stockport have won two, drawn one and lost two, and that run of form basically sums up their season. They clearly have the quality of a top side, having lost in the play-offs last time out and currently sitting in sixth, but the inability to put a consistent run of results and performances together is what’s separating them from the top two sides as it stands. They managed to win four in a row, including the reverse fixture at Huddersfield, in October and things were looking bright, but they’ve only managed to win three games since. If they could just find some form and stick four or five wins together, which they’re more than capable of, they’d shoot up the league. Easier said than done, I suppose!
Stockport had the third best home record in the league last season, and their ability to make Edgeley Park a fortress was key in their incredible third place finish immediately following promotion from League Two. This year, fifteenth in the home table and struggling, having already lost more games at their place than in the entirety of last campaign. Something just isn’t quite clicking for Dave Challinor’s team, but the inconsistency of the rest of the league has kept them right in the fight. There’s still time to turn it round, starting here against Huddersfield.
Beating the Terriers will be a tricky task, however! Lee Grant has quietened some of the talk around him losing his job with a run of just one defeat in nine, and that was to league leaders Cardiff. Three losses followed by two draws makes up their last five league games, a solid run of results to build on and they’ll come into this game flush with confidence. Huddersfield are the highest goalscorers in the league by a margin, but also have the worst defence in the top fifteen teams. Looking at their personnel, it’s clear to see why, a few reinforcements at the back in January could see them mount a real push for the top two if their forwards stay fit and firing.
Head-to-head:
Before spending last season in the same division, these two hadn’t butted heads since 2010.
In fact, in 2018/19 Huddersfield were in the Premier League and Stockport were down in the National League North. I’m not sure if that shows how bad Huddersfield have been or how amazing Stockport’s rise it, maybe a bit of both.
After spending fourteen years apart they still didn’t save many goals for each other, Huddersfield winning 1-0 at home and Stockport taking a 2-1victory in this match last season.
In the reverse fixture, it was Stockport who came out on top with a solid 2-1 away victory despite having ten men for nearly 40 minutes. It was a fairly even game that was edged by the experience of Challinor coaching against first-timer Lee Grant, but the Terriers’ boss will be ready this time.
They’re different teams now than they were back in October, is this weekend the time to start creating some fresh history between these sides after spending so long apart?
Key Matchup:
Oliver Norwood vs Leo Castledine
Two of League One’s standout performers this year, both at opposite ends of their career, face off in this game.
At 34 years old, Norwood is still an absolute monster at this level. With the added spice of him having spent two seasons as a Huddersfield player in his long career, he will be well up for being the difference maker once again today. His passing ability, both short and long, is astounding and he is more than happy to muck in and do the defensive dirty work on top of his creative duties. He has 5 goals already this season, 4 from the penalty spot and an absolute beauty of a free kick. Dangerous with a dead ball and able to set up a teammate from anywhere on the pitch, watch out for Oliver Norwood.
If anyone can put Norwood through his paces, young Chelsea loanee Leo Castledine might be the boy to do it. The attacking midfielder has flourished in Grant’s gung-ho system, netting 10 goals and grabbing 2 assists in 23 league games so far. After a disappointing loan at Shrewsbury last season, Castledine has really come into his own this time out. What’s not to love? He can score from anywhere with either foot and scores his fair share of headers for a man of only 5’10, testament to his ability to make the perfect run and arrive at the right place at the right time to finish off a move. No midfielder has more goals than him this season in the league and his high-pressing numbers are phenomenal. With rumours of Chelsea cancelling the loan to sell him on to a Championship club swirling, this might be the last chance the Terriers get to watch this season’s star man in action.
An experienced operator up against some all-action new blood with Premier League ambitions. It’s classic League One. Who will emerge victorious?
Preview:
A real opportunity to get some much-needed points on the board and start to peel away from the chasing pack for both these teams. Will Huddersfield continue their long unbeaten run or will Stockport finally start to correct their Edgeley Park woes in the new year?
It’s all up for grabs!
My Prediction: Stockport 1-2 Huddersfield
White Noise 