MY ACCOUNT
– Huddersfield have lost only one of their last eight Championship matches
– Both teams have scored in five of Huddersfield’s last six league outings
– Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Huddersfield know that a point from their final two games will be enough to preserve their Championship status for another season after holding on to beat Cardiff 2-1 on Sunday.
The Terriers have been transformed under Neil Warnock and the veteran boss will be aiming to seal safety with a game to spare when one of his former clubs, Sheffield United, come calling on Thursday night.
Whereas Huddersfield must seal the deal in their battle against relegation, it is a case of mission accomplished for the Blades, who deservedly secured automatic promotion back to the Premier League last week.
In usual circumstances the visiting Blades would probably be favourites to win at the John Smith’s Stadium given they are 19 places above their hosts, but with so much on the line for Huddersfield, the Terriers cannot be discounted.
Team news
Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls came through Sunday’s win at Cardiff unscathed after four months on the sidelines and is likely to continue in goal.
Half-time substitute Joseph Hungbo is pushing for a start after netting the Terriers’ opening goal at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbotton could recall Sander Berge, Oli McBurnie and John Egan to the Blades’ starting line-up after making a number of changes for Saturday’s win over Preston.
The stats
The return of Warnock, some 28 years on from his first spell with the Terriers, has proved an inspired choice by the Huddersfield board.
Town have collected 19 points from 14 matches since Warnock was handed the reins in mid-February and the Terriers have lost only one of their last eight league matches — at a Swansea side finishing the season with a rattle.
Sheffield United deservedly secured promotion to the Premier League last week and they have won eight and lost two of their last 10 league games.
The Blades have 88 points with two games remaining and will surpass the club’s record points haul for a Championship season with victory in their final two games. The previous record of 92 was set in 2005-06 when the Blades were managed by Warnock.
Prediction
Given the positions of these Yorkshire rivals. Huddersfield clearly have more at stake heading into Thursday’s meeting.
The Terriers have become a hard side to beat under Warnock and they will want to secure safety to avoid a final day relegation showdown against Reading, who are one place below them.
Sheffield United’s need for points is not anywhere near as great given they have already assured themselves of a place in the Premier League next season, but the Blades showed against Preston at the weekend they are not clocking off just yet.
That should lead to a hotly contested derby tussle and goals seem likely at both ends.
Huddersfield have failed to score in just one of their last eight league games while Sheffield United have netted 11 goals in their last four games.
Back both teams to score at 8/11 with LiveScore Bet.
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