VINCE BLISSETT (@Vince_RFC) takes a look at Friday night's live Championship encounter between Bristol City and Huddersfield.
Bristol City v Huddersfield | Friday 19:45 | Sky Sports
Huddersfield head to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City on Friday evening with the chance to really crank up the pressure on the Championship’s top-two.
A win would see the Terriers close to gap to Newcastle and Brighton to three points before they play Birmingham and Leeds respectively on Saturday.
Well-oiled Terriers roll on
Huddersfield have now taken 25 points from the last 30 available with the loss to Newcastle and a draw with Barnsley the blotches on their league record since mid-January.
To David Wagner’s credit his team put those results to the back of their minds very quickly, bouncing back with impressive 1-0 victories over both Aston Villa and Brentford.
There’s not much else to say about the Terriers that I haven’t previously. They get the job done, don’t concede too many whilst not scoring a hatful. Twenty of their 22 league wins have arrived by a single goal, which says a lot about the strength and determination of the club as a whole.
Under-pressure Johnson
Lee Johnson has been coming under increasing pressure for what seems like months and now sitting in the relegation zone he could be nearing the end of his tenure with the Bristol City.
However, you’d think that if Johnson was going to get his marching orders then he would have already been axed. One of his assistant’s was relieved of his duties this week so it looks as though the current City boss does have the backing of the Ashton Gate board.
Since these two met in the second weekend of December, the Robins have won just twice – against the two teams currently below them in the table, including a late winner last weekend at Wigan.
City have picked up a few good draws in that sample but really they should be doing better than they are. After 15 games they were sixth in the standings with a promotion push a realistic aim but since then it’s been a downward spiral.
Goals in short supply?
Goals look to be in short supply with both these teams so opposing goals could be an avenue to profit. Combining their collective last five games, only four have seen Both Teams To Score bank so the 11/10 (Paddy Power) on offer for one or both not to get on the scoresheet appeals.
As does Under 2.5 Goals at 13/16 (188BET) which over the same span of games would have landed on eight occasions.
Town march on
This tie throws up third-bottom vs third from top in the league, 17th vs second in the form table and 20th in the home table vs second in the away form table.
Yet the odds aren’t too far away from each other, as low as 2/1 for a home win and high as 29/20 (Bet365) for an away victory. I probably would have taken Huddersfield to win at evens so I’m more than happy to back them at 29/20.
A Huddersfield win combined with Under 2.5 Goals could easily be argued for at very nice looking 17/4 with Betstars but that’s not how I like to go about my business. I’m much happier taking the unspectacular and easy to make pick of Huddersfield to pick up the three points.
Best Bets
Bristol City v Huddersfield – Huddersfield to win (29/20 Bet365)
