Football News: Huddersfield Town v Fulham Preview 5 November 2018

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Huddersfield Town v Fulham

Are there two sides in more desperate need of a win in the Premier League right now? With just one win between them from their combined 20 matches in the division so far this season, it hasn't been the start to 2018-19 that either of these sides hoped for, and they both need a sharp turnaround.

A draw, in truth, would no neither side any favours. They need points if they are to start to think about looking up the table.

This is a strange contrast of a matchup really - Huddersfield have scored just one goal in their last 11 home games in all competitions (the worst such goal scoring run of any top-flight side in English football history), whilst Fulham are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season. You could say this a face-off between a toothless attack and a spineless defence. The opposite of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object, if you will. That makes it very difficult to call.

With regards to head-to-head, it's Huddersfield who have cause for concern. They are winless in 11 league clashes with Fulham since they last beat them 1-0 in September 1993 in the third tier. In fact, even in Huddersfield's promotion-winning 2016-17 campaign, they were beaten 5-0 and 4-1 by Fulham away and at home respectively. That doesn't bode well for David Wagner's side.

But what will give them hope is that this is a Fulham side that is leaking goals. They have let in a Premier League joint-record 28 of them in their opening 10 games - if the Terriers don't end their shockingly poor home goal scoring drought here, then they really are in trouble.

Fulham themselves will be hoping to avoid losing five straight league games for the first time since December 2013 in their previous top-flight campaign. But they will be bolstered by the fact that they have won six of their last eight games played on a Monday, although having said that, Huddersfield too have won seven of their last eight on the first day of the week. Something has to give there, much like these two sides' shocking recent run at both ends of the pitch.

Key players:

Laurent Depoitre - He's been given the starting birth for the Terriers in recent weeks and he needs to start repaying that with some goals. He is on a run of 11 games without scoring in the league since he netted against Chelsea in May to ensure Huddersfield's survival. And they need just that again now - goals.

Andre Schurrle - With two goals in his last three league games, Fulham need Schurrle to showcase his quality to get themselves back on track in the Premier League. Only Mitrovic has had more shots on target in this season's Premier League for Fulham than Schurrle, and the Cottagers need him to convert his chances in a vital match tonight.

Written by Reid the Red November 05 2018 11:03:45