2024-25 League 1: Week 29 – Huddersfield vs Birmingham City

Huddersfield meet Birmingham City in a huge clash in the 2024-25 League One promotion race. 

Victory will see Huddersfield stay fourth but potentially move to within three points of the top two if Wycombe lose elsewhere.

Birmingham will stay top with a win but a draw or defeat will be enough if Wycombe fail to better their result.

 

Team News

Huddersfield could be without Ben Wiles after he suffered a foot injury during their defeat to Bolton last weekend.

David Kasumu, Nigel Lonwijk (both hamstring), Tom Iorpenda (back), Mickel Miller and Danny Ward (both knee) remain ruled out.

Birmingham could be without Tomoki Iwata for a fourth consecutive game due to an unspecified injury, which most recently saw him miss the 1-1 draw at Wrexham.

Lee Buchanan (knee), Emil Hansson (muscle), Paik Seung-ho (knock) and Willum Willumsson (unspecified) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off? 

Huddersfield host Birmingham City at John Smith’s Stadium on Tuesday 28 January at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports + in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Huddersfield have won one of their last five league meetings against Birmingham (W1, D1, L3).
• Birmingham are winless in their last seven league trips to Huddersfield (D6, L1).
• Five of Huddersfield’s last six draws at home to Birmingham ended in 1-1 draws, except for a goalless draw in October 2021.
• Huddersfield have kept clean sheets in two of their last five home games (W1, D3, L1).
• Birmingham have been held to 1-1 draws in two of their last three away games in the league.

 

Prediction

Following a wasteful defeat to Bolton in which they failed to create quality chances despite having more shots in the game, Huddersfield have to be clinical here if they want to stay in the promotion hunt but patience will be needed if want to beat a Birmingham team who like to dominate possession.

Birmingham though have slightly stuttered in their last three league games on the road but having found themselves in a physical battle at Wrexham, a point was a fair outcome and the extra rest time from having played last Thursday will only freshen them up here.

Huddersfield therefore need to start well and try to frustrate Birmingham otherwise I can see this ending in an away win but given the Brummies’ own away issues, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in a 1-1 draw.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1-1 Birmingham

Result: Huddersfield 0-1 Birmingham