Huddersfield vs Swansea Prediction: A point not enough for struggling Town

It's getting towards last chance saloon time in the Championship, with only three matches remaining in the relegation scrap. We've taken a look at Saturday afternoon's game (15:00) involving one of the bottom three and given you our Huddersfield Town vs Swansea City Predictions. 

As a Huddersfield Town fan of almost 30 years, I've heard every bad luck story there is in one form or other...

How the Town board rejected Bill Shankly's plea for more funds to sign Ian St John and Ron Yeats back in 1957, before they went on to dominate English football at Liverpool. How we turned down the opportunity to sign dozens of up and coming players, who would then go on to play their entire careers in the Premier League. How we were sent down in 2001 via a Curtis Woodhouse double, as all three results that needed to happen to relegate Huddersfield came to fruition.

So forgive me for not buying into the rhetoric that a (frankly disgraceful) handball decision by referee Rebecca Welch, 10 minutes into injury time to give Bristol City a draw, dropping Town into the relegation zone and a subsequent apology that she had got it wrong by the referee body, the PGMOL, could be responsible for costing the Terriers their second tier status. I won't even mention that the penalty was dispatched by a certain Mr Nahki Wells.

Instead lay the blame on the players, on the frank mismanagement of the club when sacking Neil Warnock and employing the disastrous Darren Moore, or on the decision to go for current boss Andre Breitenreiter over the interim Jon Worthington, who was appearing to get a tune out of the squad at the time. Whatever the reason, Huddersfield haven't been good enough and have been one of the three worst teams in the division to date.

However, despite that gloomy rant of an introduction they do still have a chance of survival, with two winnable home games against Swansea and chief relegation rivals Birmingham City, ahead of a potential final day mission impossible away at Ipswich. If they don't win on Saturday though, it could be 'arrivederci Championship' for the West Yorkshire club.

Apologies to Swansea readers for my biased intro but hopefully you will allow me some creative licence (letting off steam). Sitting nine points above Huddersfield in 14th spot, they are quite literally living up to the cliché of being on the beach but are in reasonable form, having recently beaten another two strugglers in Stoke and already doomed Rotherham.

Manager Luke Williams has admitted this year was all about staying in the league following Russell Martin's defection to Southampton and has spoken about a huge task in the summer and a likely rebuild. A strong end to the season and a potential top-half finish would be a lovely little boost heading into an important transfer window for the club.

Team news

After an improved performance at Ashton Gate, Breitenreiter could be tempted to stick with the same starting XI that were oh-so-close to the three points. They are still without five first-team squad members, including club captain Jonathan Hogg.

With survival secured for City, Williams could be tempted to rotate his side and hand a start to young winger Aimar Govea on Saturday. The Swans also are without five players ahead of the long trip north.

Match odds

The hosts come into this match as the 23/20 favourites implying a 46% chance of victory, with Swansea an outsider at 23/10, while the draw is at a tidy looking 5/2.

The Betfred traders are undecided on goals in this one, with both over/under 2.5 goals priced at 5/6.

Match result - Draw @ 5/2

Much as I would like to have predicted a Town win here, I can't bring myself to do it.

They have won just once in the last nine games and whilst there have been some signs of positivity, they have been unable to close out a game, even when in the ascendancy.

Swansea are no mugs and even though their season is done, they won't turn up to the John Smiths and roll over to have their tummies tickled. They are a proud team under a good manager and will be a tough task to break down.

I'm betting on this game being the Terriers 18th draw of the season and for them to need a miracle in their last two games.

Josh Koroma to score @ 5/2

One man who has stepped up to the plate in recent games is wing-forward Josh Koroma.

The 25-year-old has had a poor season and not lived up to the talent that he clearly possesses. However, in recent games he has made a contribution, scoring first against both Preston and Bristol and with Town so shy on the goalscoring front, Koroma remains one of the few players that can actually find the net.

Sadly on this occasion, I doubt it will be enough...

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