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

Southampton will be looking to further extend their outstanding unbeaten run when they play host to Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

While the Saints sit in second position in the standings, Huddersfield are down in 21st spot, albeit having put together a four-match undefeated streak of their own.

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Match preview

Although Southampton may have contemplated parting ways with Russell Martin on the back of a four-game losing streak earlier in the season, he has since proven that he is the ideal man to guide the club back to the Premier League.

Last weekend's 2-0 victory away at Rotherham United made it 21 matches without defeat in the Championship, as many as 15 wins being recorded during that period.

The recent burst of seven triumphs in eight outings have finally been enough to see the Saints move into the top two after months of resistance from Ipswich Town.

As it stands, a resurgent Leeds are their strongest challengers for second spot behind runaway leaders Leicester City, but Southampton will be focused on their own performances and results over worrying about rivals.

Southampton also have ambitions to go far in the FA Cup, with their 3-0 victory over Watford in their replay on Tuesday night setting up a fifth-round showdown at Liverpool.

Huddersfield are heavy underdogs to claim anything from their long trip to St Mary's, yet they are in the best shape that they have been in for some time.

Caretaker boss Jon Worthington witnessed the Terriers record a 4-0 victory over relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the John Smith's Stadium last weekend.

While it ended a run of six matches without a win, it also extended a four-game unbeaten run having previously posted three draws in a row.

Sitting just two points adrift of 16th-placed Millwall, Huddersfield will sense an opportunity on Saturday, even when playing opponents who have won 10 successive home matches in all competitions.

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Team News

Having made numerous alterations for the FA Cup replay with Watford, Martin is likely to revert back to the starting lineup from the Rotherham game.

That would see Sekou Mara drop back down to the substitutes' bench, despite scoring twice against the Hornets, and David Brooks have to bide his time for a start after a loan move from Bournemouth.

Joe Aribo remains out of contention for Southampton with Nigeria having reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

After Rhys Healey suffered an injury against Sheffield Wednesday, Ben Wiles looks most likely to come into the Huddersfield team.

Bojan Radulovic may keep his spot in attack despite being substituted before Huddersfield's four-goal haul, while Yuta Nakayama, Jack Rudoni and David Kasumu are are available again after their recent absences.

Southampton possible starting lineup: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Smallbone, Downes, S. Armstrong; A. Armstrong, Adams, Fraser

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup: Nicholls; Pearson, Balker, Lees, Spencer; Matos, Hogg, Wiles; Thomas, Radulovic, Koroma

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We say: Southampton 3-0 Huddersfield Town

Although Huddersfield will be on a high after their recent victory, a rarity this season, we cannot back against Southampton. There has been a ruthlessness about the Saints for some time and we expect that to continue on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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