Huddersfield v Charlton Betting Tip 1 – 25 January 2013

FA Cup & League Cup Tips

After a narrow defeat  away to QPR in the Championship last weekend, Huddersfield’s focus is now on the fourth round of the FA Cup as they look to make it beyond this stage for the second year in a row. They overcame a dogged Grimsby side in the last round at the beginning of the month, getting the better of them by the odd goal of five. They left it very late however, equalising with less than five minutes to go and, not content with a replay, scoring the winner in the last minute. That result was their only away win in their last five in all competitions so the fact that they have been drawn at home in this round can only be a good thing. Having already of gotten the better of this weekend’s opponents in the league and league earlier in the season, confidence will be high of reaching the fifth round.

I previewed Charlton’s last league match – away to Middlesbrough – and it went pretty much as expected as they lost the game 1-0. They’ve lost just one match all season by more than two goals so it was unlikely to be a heavy defeat despite being on the road against an inform side. It is however another defeat all the same, and it pulls them every closer to the relegation zone. They received some respite from the trials of the Championship when beating Oxford 3-0 away from home in their third round replay. Another away tie against a club from the same league was probably not high up on their wish-list for a variety of reasons, not least that they have managed just two league wins on their travels.

There’s something of a striker shortage at Huddersfield at the moment as new signings Nahki Wells and Joe Lolley are both ineligible having both featured in the competition already for their previous clubs. Add to that the major doubt over Martin Paterson and resources are thin on the ground. All concerned will be hoping that top scorer James Vaughan is able to return after injury as the striker is enjoying a terrific season, averaging better than a goal a game in the league.

It can either go one of two ways for a struggling side in a cup competition. There is bound to be a release of pressure from the week to week effort to secure Championship points but it’s also very likely that its way down their list of priorities at this stage of the FA Cup. They have bolstered the squad with a couple of loan signings in the window and that may freshen things up a little as they look to build momentum ahead of what will be a crucial period in their league season.

Huddersfield are going for the hat-trick against Charlton at home this season and if they are able to patch up their talismanic striker I envisage them having too much for their opponents yet again – home win.

Huddersfield 19/20 @ William Hill