Match preview

Not since their 1-0 loss to none other than Birmingham on October 1 had Huddersfield been conquered in League One, but Michael Duff's crop had no answer to the might of a managerless Bolton side on Saturday, as the Trotters kicked off the post-Ian Evatt era in style.

In a clash between two erstwhile Premier League clubs, Bolton ripped up the form book as Aaron Collins struck the only goal of the contest 10 minutes into the second half, condemning Huddersfield to that increasingly rare sinking feeling.

Nevertheless, the fourth-placed Terriers still cannot be totally discounted in the automatic promotion race, lying seven points behind Wycombe Wanderers and four adrift of third-placed Wrexham, both of whom have played a game more than Duff's men.

As surprising as Saturday's loss may have been, Huddersfield had started to see their powers wane on home soil before the visit of the Trotters; after winning seven in a row on their own patch from October 5 to December 3, they now have just one victory from their last five at the John Smith's Stadium.

However, midweek matchups tend to bring out the best in Huddersfield, who have won each of their last four league matches played on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, their longest such sequence since their Premier League promotion season in 2016-17.

Also dreaming of reliving their glory days in England's top tier, Tom Brady's Birmingham swap Hollywood for Huddersfield in midweek, having contested a glamour derby with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham on January 23.

Under the watchful eyes of their star-studded owners, the two title hopefuls contested a hard-fought draw at the Racecourse Ground, as Ollie Rathbone broke the deadlock in the ninth minute before Lyndon Dykes replied no fewer than nine minutes later.

Extending their unbeaten streak in all tournaments to a staggering 15 matches - including each of their last 11 contests in League One - Chris Davies's men are still looking down on all other 23 teams in the division and have two games in hand on second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.

Rarely kept at bay on rival territory, Blues have only failed to score in one of their 13 League One away matches so far this season - their 1-0 loss to Charlton Athletic on October 5 - but trips to Huddersfield are not always the most fruitful.

Indeed, Birmingham have gone winless in each of their last seven league matches away to the Terriers - although six of them have ended level - and an Alfie May strike was enough to propel Davies's men to a 1-0 triumph over Tuesday's hosts back in October.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Chapman; Lees, Pearson, Balker; Turton, Kane, Evans, Hogg, Spencer; Charles, Marshall

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Gardner-Hickman, Leonard; Anderson, Dykes, Stansfield; May