Huddersfield vs Birmingham Prediction: May to haunt the Terriers again

Huddersfield Town face a big test in their quest for automatic promotion from League 1 on Tuesday (20:00, Sky Sports+) as they welcome leaders Birmingham City to the John Smith's Stadium. The Terriers saw their 16-game unbeaten streak in the third tier come to an end at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, in what was a toothless performance from Michael Duff's side.

Birmingham head here following a hard-fought draw at Wrexham last Thursday to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 11 matches. That point was made that much more significant after their nearest rivals failed to gain ground on them. Below you will find my Huddersfield vs Birmingham prediction, aided by the latest match odds and team news.

Huddersfield vs Birmingham Odds

Huddersfield have won just one of their last five home games in League 1, and they are 2/1 to triumph over the league leaders on Tuesday. Three of those fixtures ended in stalemates, which was also the outcome in Birmingham's previous away trip. The stalemate is on offer at 9/4, which has an implied probability of 30.8%.

Birmingham are 7/5 (41.7%) to come away with the three points, which they have managed in four of their latest six away trips in the third tier.

In three of Huddersfield's last four home appearances in the league, at least one team has failed to get on the scoresheet. BTTS is available at a tempting 1/1 for Tuesday.

Football Odds

Team News

Huddersfield will be without the services of right-back Ollie Turton due to a meniscus issue he picked up at the weekend, so former Lincoln City man Lasse Sorensen should come in for him against Birmingham.

Midfielder Ben Wiles came off with an injury in the first-half which is not deemed to be as bad. There is hope he could feature on Tuesday, but Herbie Kane and Joe Hodge will be primed to deputise if needed, but both could play anyway if Duff decides to freshen things up.

January additions Joe Taylor and Dion Charles failed to have an impact against the Trotters, with the latter facing his former employers for the first time. West Ham United loanee Callum Marshall is likely to replace one of the strikers against the Blues.

The visitors head to Yorkshire without Lee Buchanan (knee), Willum Willumsson, Emil Hansson and Paik Seung-ho, and the latter three's absences were felt at Wrexham as Chris Davies' team struggled in possession. Defensive midfielder Tomoki Iwata has been declared fit to play, though, which will come as a huge boost for his team.

Keshi Anderson replaced Scott Wright in North Wales last time out after a few weeks out of action. The wide man is expected to come into the starting lineup here. Birmingham boosted their attacking options on Monday with the addition of Kieran Dowell on loan from Rangers, and he is expected to be thrown straight into the squad for Tuesday's trip.

Davies named strikers Alfie May, Jay Stansfield and Lyndon Dykes in the team to face Wrexham, and the trio might get the chance to start with each other against Huddersfield.

Birmingham to win to nil @ 3/1

As a Birmingham fan, the last 15-20 minutes against Wrexham were nervy. They were the team pushing for the winner and their barrage of  balls into the box for Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher had me on edge.

The defenders, to immense credit, rose to the challenge. Ben Davies has been a revelation on loan after a disappointing spell at Rangers, while Christoph Klarer might just be the best signing we made in the summer, yes including £10m man Stansfield.

The Austrian is one of the best centre-backs I've seen play for the club because he can do it all. Pace is his only setback but more often than not he cuts out danger before needing to engage in a foot race.

Davies and Klarer have been key in Birmingham's current unbeaten run, which has included eight clean sheets. They were dependable in a huge clash at Wrexham, and I am expecting more of the same from them against a Terriers side who looked wayward in the final third in their last fixture.

The Blues need to show a bit more on the ball this time around to give themselves some extra breathing space from this promotion rival, while still having games in hand on the clubs closest to them in the table.

Normally, when there has been a flat performance, it is followed by a vibrant one. Drab draws against Blackpool and Stockport County over the festive period were succeeded by a clinical 3-0 showing at Wigan Athletic.

Huddersfield might be shaken up against the league leaders after seeing their unbeaten run come to an end, and Birmingham to win to nil was a winning selection in the reverse fixture at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park back in October.

Alfie May anytime goalscorer @ 15/8

The match-winner on that occasion was May, who Birmingham signed after hijacking Huddersfield's bid to sign him in the summer. Last season's League 1 Golden Boot winner scored one of the easiest chances of the campaign as he tapped into an empty net after a smart pass from Stansfield.

May heads into this clash with three goals in his last four league outings, and his total for the campaign now stands at 10, just two behind his attacking teammate. He will be feeling confident ahead of Tuesday, and he can rub more salt in the Terriers' wounds after their missed opportunity at the weekend.

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