Preview: Huddersfield Town vs Bradford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Bradford City will make the short trip to the Accu Stadium on Saturday to take on Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town in an important game at the top end of the League One table.

The visitors currently sit third, seven points above the hosts who begin life under new manager Liam Manning.

Match preview

Huddersfield Town return to League One action on Saturday under the new management of Liam Manning, who took charge on Tuesday following the departure of Lee Grant.

Grant, who arrived at the Accu Stadium in the summer, was dismissed with the Yorkshire side sat sixth in their second consecutive League One promotion bid, having won just three of their last 13 third-tier outings.

That leaves the Terriers sixth in the table on 39 points from 27 outings, more games than every side below them in League One, while only four sides have conceded more than the 38 goals they have allowed thus far.

A pair of league defeats, either side of an EFL Trophy win over Rotherham United, spelled the end for Grant, culminating in a 3-1 away loss to strugglers Burton Albion last weekend, having been level at the break through Alfie May before Jake Beesley and JJ McKiernan sealed a home win in the second half.

Having since turned to Liam Manning, who is now tasked with reigniting the Terriers' promotion bid, Huddersfield Town find themselves only above seventh spot on goal difference and six points outside of the top four, and they will hope to establish their top-six status in the coming weeks under the new boss.

They face a tough test, though, as the visitors arrive aiming to narrow their gap to the top two and complete a double over Huddersfield after a 3-1 home win in the reverse fixture in September.

While that is largely down to one of the league's best home records, Graham Alexander's side have been strong on the road too, winning four and only losing three of their 12 away league games thus far most recently visiting Blackpool in early January and winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Aden Baldwin and Will Swan.

League leaders Cardiff City then visited the University of Bradford Stadium at the weekend and prevented the Bantams making it four wins from five, as David Turnbull and Calum Chambers had the visitors 2-0 up and Alexander's men failed to failed a leveller after Jenson Metcalfe pulled one back on the hour mark.

Now returning to action with a six-point gap to second-placed Lincoln City and two games in hand, Bradford City will hope to give their automatic promotion hopes a major boost with a Yorkshire derby win on Saturday.

Huddersfield Town League One form:

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Huddersfield Town form (all competitions):

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Bradford City League One form:

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Team News

Huddersfield Town remain unable to call on Jack Whatmough, Sean Roughan, Herbie Kane and Antony Evans due to ongoing injuries.

While we are yet to see how Liam Manning will set up his new side, Alfie May should continue up front alongside Bojan Radulovic, who has managed seven goals and five assists in League One so far this season.

Radinio Balker, Joe Low and Murray Wallace will hope to continue in a back three, while Bali Mumba made his debut last weekend following his arrival from Plymouth Argyle.

Bradford City remain without Matthew Pennington, Lewis Richards and Nick Powell, as they are confined to the treatment room.

Striker Will Swan is a fresh concern after being forced off against Cardiff last time out, and if he misses out Stephen Humphrys will likely come in to lead the line.

The preferred striker will have support from Antoni Sarcevic and Bobby Pointon, who boasts seven goals in 17 league appearances in an injury-hit campaign, while Max Power and Jenson Metcalfe should continue in the engine room despite competition from Louie Sibley.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Nicholls; Balker, Low, Wallace; Gooch, Humphreys, Ledson, Harness, Mumba; Radulovic, May

Bradford City possible starting lineup:

Walker; Baldwin, Tilt, Touray; Neufville, Power, Metcalfe, Wright; Sarcevic, Humphrys, Pointon

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Bradford City

Huddersfield Town will hope to feel a boost from the arrival of Liam Manning, and he inherits a squad with an abundance of quality at League One level.

While the visitors have certainly been the more impressive side this season, they face a tough test, particularly with the Terriers rejuvenated, and we see a share of the points as the most likely outcome.

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