Huddersfield Town vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Huddersfield are five points from relegation zone

Huddersfield Town will welcome Middlesbrough at The John Smith's Stadium in Game Week 25 of the English Championship. Huddersfield need some good results to get away from the dreaded relegation zone. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

Despite Darren Moore successfully keeping Huddersfield from being relegated for the time being, he continues to face pressure due to recent comments from the club's higher-ups. However, there were no complaints about Huddersfield's impressive 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day. This win ended a five-game winless streak and allowed Huddersfield to move five points clear of the bottom three, as the 22nd and 23rd-placed teams suffered defeats. The club's owners have aspirations of challenging for promotion, but Moore hopes they understand that it will take time at the John Smith's Stadium. Nonetheless, Huddersfield has only won three of their last 18 games in the second tier, which must improve drastically if Moore wants to secure his job in the long term. 

Due to a hamstring injury to goalkeeper Chris Maxwell on Boxing Day, manager Moore will have to choose between either Jacob Chapman or Lee Nicholls, who is currently under concussion protocol, as a replacement. The rest of the Huddersfield team is expected to remain the same, with Moore prioritizing continuity over player rotation. It is possible that Josh Koroma may be included in the starting lineup. However, players such as Josh Ruffels and Danny Ward will not be able to participate due to their injuries. 

Chapman; Lees, Helik, Nakayama; Kasumu, Wiles, Hogg, Rudoni, Headley; Burgzorg, Thomas

Michael Carrick may also feel the pressure as he has failed to build on last season's near-miss with promotion. While Boro's four wins in their last 11 games have kept them in the playoff race, sitting in 14th place, concerns arise after a 1-0 loss to struggling Rotherham United following notable wins against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion. Middlesbrough has now lost more games than they have won in the second tier during the 2023-24 season, a fact that the fans find unacceptable. The upcoming matches against Huddersfield and Coventry City have the potential to be crucial for Carrick's future at the Riverside Stadium.

 Carrick is likely to make changes, with Riley McGree, Matt Crooks, and Josh Coburn among those who could be brought back into the team. Lukas Engel is expected to replace Alex Bangura at left-back. The availability of players like Paddy McNair and Hayden Hackney is uncertain due to the quick turnaround. 

Glover; Dijksteel, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Howson, Barlaser; Jones, Crooks, Greenwood; Coburn

With both managers feeling the pressure, this game is expected to be closely contested. Either team could emerge as the winner, but we predict that the most likely outcome is a low-scoring draw. Take a double bet on the home side as the odds are pretty decent.