HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v DERBY COUNTY
Championship
Monday 5th August 2019
Kickoff: 1945hrs
Pick: Huddersfield Town AH0
Bookmaker: Bet Victor
Odds: 1.54 (odds taken at 08:24 GMT, 05 August 2019)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.10 | 3.30 | 3.62 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 05, 2019 at 08:24)
The first weekend’s action of this opening round of fixtures in the Championship concludes with Huddersfield Town taking on Derby County as the betting tips continue at the John Smith’s Stadium. Both teams will be keen to get off to a winning start here as both failed in their fights against relegation and gaining promotion respectively.
Huddersfield Town Prediction – Can Huddersfield start with a bang?
After surviving their first season back in the big time since 1972 under the guidance of former manager, David Wagner, Huddersfield finally succumbed to the drop last season.
The writing very quickly appeared on the wall last term as The Terriers’ obstinate and hard-working approach had been worked out in their second term.
Following a string of bad results which saw Huddersfield win just 2 league matches of their 24 played, Wagner left the club by mutual consent.
Another German manager was appointed in Jan Siewart, but he fared little better as Huddersfield gained just 1 win from his 15 matches in charge.
The Terriers were duly relegated with a few weeks of the season remaining, so this season in the Championship represents Siewart’s first full season at the club.
Expectations of a swift return to the Premier League need to be realistic as the Yorkshire club work to offload high-wage earning personnel.
New signings, defender Tommy Elphick is expected to bolster a central defence with incumbent Christopher Schindler as Huddersfield look to plug the holes at the back.
A midfield comprising Mooy, Pritchard, Bacuna, La Parra, Hogg and Reece Brown isn’t the worst and should provide creativity in goalscoring chances.
Huddersfield’s big problem last season though was sticking the ball in the back of the net, so much is expected of Kachunga, Quaner, Mounie and Ahearne-Grant.
Derby County Prediction – Can Derby finally achieve promotion?
Frank Lampard guided Derby County to the Play-off final in the Championship last season but The Rams fell at the final hurdle as Aston Villa secured a 2-1 win at Wembley.
Lampard’s apprenticeship as a full-time manager was complete though and he has since departed the club, returning to former club Chelsea as manager.
Dutch manager, Philip Cocu, has taken over the reigns at Pride Park but inherits a vastly inferior squad to one that was at Lampard’s disposal last season.
Gone are the goalscoring midfield duo of Harry Wilson and Mason Mount who have returned to their parent clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
Wilson (16 goals) and Mount (9 goals) contributed a total of 25 goals from midfield last term and although Derby have replaced them, the same production is unlikely to occur.
Tom Huddlestone and Richard Keogh will provide experience in midfield and defence respectively, but the forwards will need to make more telling contributions this season.
Waghord, Marriott, Bennett and Martin all combined for a total of 24 goals between them last term which is 1 goal short of midfielders Wilson and Mount alone.
This could therefore be a disappointing season for Derby compared to last season’s near miss as Cocu looks to rebuild his squad.
Key-Facts – Huddersfield v Derby
- Huddersfield were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season
- Derby County lost in the Championship Play-off final last season to Aston Villa
- Huddersfield Town won the last meeting at home against Derby County 1-0
Betting Tips Verdict
It’s very much a season of rebuilding and starting again for both of these teams, but Huddersfield with home advantage might just edge this one.
