Preston looking to end Deepdale rut when hosting Huddersfield

Preston go into Saturday’s encounter with Huddersfield Town looking to win a game at home for the first time in 2021.

This is a run that has stretched across five matches seeing three defeats and two draws. The last victory was against Coventry at the end of December and this is a spell that manager Alex Neil will be desperate to put an end to.

North End have slipped down the table with only one win in their last seven league games and the playoffs now look a distant prospect. With so many new players brought in during the January transfer window and the loss of key personnel such as Ben Pearson, Ben Davies and Darnell Fisher, the hope is now to have a strong finish to the campaign and build for next season.

Anthony Gordon impressed midweek and the young Everton loanee will be hoping to get on the scoresheet this weekend. Goals have been hard to come by in recent weeks with the goalless run now at 317 minutes since the morale boosting win against local rivals Blackburn.

The difficult period hasn’t gotten any easier with the loss of Paul Gallagher and Liam Lindsay to injury. Lindsay had begun his Preston career well having arrived on loan from Stoke last month.

Alan Browne returned to midfield midweek and that may spark some life going forward with the Irish international well capable of scoring having grabbed a brace in the reverse victory over the Terriers in October.

Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield side come into this clash still looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone.

The Yorkshiremen couldn’t build on their stunning 4-1 victory over Swansea last weekend and followed it up with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Derby.

The win over Swansea came as a real surprise as prior to that, Corberan’s men hadn’t won since the end of December. After such a bright opening to the season, Huddersfield now find themselves just seven points above Rotherham, who have played two games fewer.

New signing Yaya Sanogo is in contention to play after completing his quarantine period and has trained with the club since Thursday. The former Arsenal striker is somewhat of a gamble having barely played in the last year but the attack needed replenishing.

Jonathan Hogg is unavailable for Saturday but Fraizer Campbell and Isaac Mbenza should be available. Campbell came off early against Derby but is over the stomach bug that was affecting him.

Saturday is a big game for both sides. Alex Neil has found himself under pressure recently but does tend to get a result when he needs it. Corberan will see this as a chance to create more breathing space at the bottom.

It’s a match that neither team can really afford to lose but that both will fancy to win. A close encounter is anticipated but who knows, goals could be like buses. You wait 317 minutes for one, a few might come along.

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