Huddersfield v Man City: betting preview, team news and tips

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 1.30pm Saturday

Mark Hudson faces a daunting challenge in his first task since he replaced David Wagner as Huddersfield's manager on an interim basis and the former Under-23 boss may well be left wishing he had remained in charge of the kids after Manchester City have visited the John Smith's Stadium.

Hudson has it all to do against a City side who have already put nine past Burton and hit Rotherham for seven since the turn of the year.

The reverse fixture finished 6-1 in August - City went ahead before the half-hour mark - and backing the long odds-on favourites to be leading after 30 minutes again could be the best way of getting financially involved in what looks a mismatch.

There's already a 42-point gulf between the sides and wooden-spoon holders Huddersfield are going to do well to reach a respectable points tally with relegation looking inevitable.

Wagner dragged every last ounce out of the squad last season to preserve their top-flight status, but the well looked to have run dry before he departed the club by mutual consent earlier this week.

Hudson takes over a team who had lost eight on the spin since the start of December until they earned a point at Cardiff last week in a 0-0 draw.

Town were unlucky with refereeing calls and were the better of two poor teams, yet they once again suffered from a lack of quality in the final third.

Huddersfield's 13-goal Premier League tally is 46 fewer than City, who have the luxury of selecting between Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero for the starting striking berth. The hosts are choosing between Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre.

That's one major difference, although it is obviously not the only one and it can be soul-destroying trying to close down all the spaces City create with the champions so good at moving the ball quickly as well as then making runs behind defensive lines at speed.

Jesus's seven goals in his last three appearances will have boosted his fragile confidence and added another string to Pep Guardiola's attacking bow, while Huddersfield cannot even rely on City taking it easy - just ask Burton.

The Burton League Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday is not going to take up much of City's efforts even though the club won't be able to field all of their talented youngsters as the Under-23s are in action in the EFL Trophy, much to the annoyance of Guardiola, who wanted the clash rearranged.

City should be at full tilt and Huddersfield's resistance may not last long.

Recommendation
Man City to be leading after 30 minutes
1pt Evs Coral, Ladbrokes

Bet on this match at soccerbase.com

Premier League standings

Team news
Huddersfield
Aaron Mooy, Danny Williams and Abedelhamid Sabiri are out.

Man City
Vincent Kompany is a minor doubt, while Benajmin Mendy and Claudio Bravo remain sidelined.

Key stat
Huddersfield have scored just 23 goals in their last 40 Premier League matches.

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