Saturday 13 January 2018 13:50, UK
Huddersfield Town, who may give new signing Alex Pritchard his debut, can move closer to Premier League safety with victory in a six-pointer against West Ham United on Saturday.
David Wagner's team have picked up 16 of their 24 points this season at home, but have not won in their last three games - if they fail to secure victory this weekend, it will be their longest run without a win in the Premier League.
West Ham, meanwhile, won the meeting earlier this season 2-0 to hand Huddersfield their first-ever Premier League defeat.
The Hammers have taken 12 points from their last seven games as David Moyes has built a team which is now hard to beat - as shown by the recent 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
Pritchard could make his debut against West Ham. The midfielder completed his permanent move to the John Smith's Stadium from Norwich on Friday morning and is expected to go straight into Wagner's squad.
Recent loan signing Terence Kongolo hopes to make his Premier League bow in central defence, but forward Collin Quaner, plus defenders Chris Lowe and Martin Cranie, will miss out through injury.
Meanwhile, Michail Antonio is still missing from the West Ham squad for the trip to Huddersfield. The winger's groin problem is taking longer than expected to clear up, while defender Winston Reid and striker Andy Carroll are doubts.
But James Collins, Aaron Cresswell, Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini have all shaken off knocks to return to the squad.
Huddersfield have won 10 of their last 12 home league games against West Ham (W10 D1 L1), though this is the first such meeting since a 1-0 win in November 1971.
The Hammers lost their last visit in any competition to face Huddersfield - 1-0 in a League Cup match in September 1997. However, they won the second leg 3-0 to progress on aggregate.
West Ham have picked up five points in their last three Premier League away games (W1 D2 L0), two more than they had earned in their opening nine on the road this season (W0 D3 L6).
If West Ham lose, it will be the fourth time they have lost to at least three different promoted sides in the same Premier League season (2001-02, 2006-07 and 2009-10). As it stands, only Middlesbrough (5) and Sunderland (4) have done this on that many occasions.
Another six-pointer! West Ham are another inconsistent side, having held Tottenham before never looking like scoring at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup - they wouldn't have scored if they were still playing now!
The Terriers are strong at home, though, and I'm not sure whether West Ham will be able to cope with their pressing game. With that in mind, I fancy David Wagner's men to get another huge three points for their survival bid.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
