Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Charlton Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Huddersfield Town play host to Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon with the Championship strugglers locked on the same points in the table.

The Addicks and the Terriers sit in 18th and 19th position respectively, just two points above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Having dropped closer to the relegation zone last weekend, Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley knew that victory was imperative when his side hosted Bristol City in midweek.

While the Yorkshire outfit had to come through some nervy moments during the closing stages, goals from Chris Willock and Karlan Grant ultimately proved to be the difference, ensuring that the club did not head into Saturday's game in the bottom three.

Cowley would have been delighted to see the former mark his first start for the club with a goal, with the Benfica loanee having only been provided with four substitute outings after failing to make the grade during a similar spell with West Bromwich Albion during the first half of the campaign.

The onus will now be on Willock to hold down a spot in the team going forward, like fellow youngster Emile Smith Rowe has done since his move from Arsenal.

Saturday's game will represent another opportunity for Huddersfield to try to win back-to-back matches for the first time since the beginning of November.

Charlton have also suffered with inconsistency of late, following each of their recent three victories with defeats in games they would have regarded as opportunities to collect more points.

Nevertheless, a return of 10 points from seven matches has kept the club out of the bottom three ahead of a crucial double-header with Huddersfield and Middlesbrough.

Lee Bowyer will take confidence from that run of results, although the former midfielder must find a way to lift his players after they conceded a last-gasp winner to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night.

Lyle Taylor remains the key man for Charlton, and the 29-year-old will hope to build on netting four goals from his last six outings in the Championship.

Huddersfield Town Championship form: LWLDLW

Charlton Athletic Championship form: WLWLWL

Team News

Having been withdrawn with Achilles and knee issues on Tuesday night, Jonathan Hogg is unlikely to start for Huddersfield at the weekend.

Trevoh Chalobah is in line to take the midfielder's place, while Steve Mounie is expected to come in for Fraizer Campbell.

Charlton manager Bowyer could opt to hand a recall to left-sided player Ben Purrington, potentially at the expense of Alfie Doughty.

Aston Villa loanee Andre Green is also pushing for a start in an attacking role ahead of Macauley Bonne.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup: Lossl; Simpson, Stearman, Schindler, Toffolo; Hogg, O'Brien; Willock, Smith Rowe, Grant; Mounie

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup: Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Oshilaja, Purrington; Cullen, Lapslie, Davis; Green, Taylor

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Given their respective positions in the table, this will be regarded as a must-not-lose encounter by both clubs. With that in mind, we are predicting a low-scoring draw at the John Smith's Stadium.