Leeds United at Huddersfield Town 2017 gamethread: Time, TV, lineups, preview and how to watch

Huddersfield Town: an afterthought for everyone who follows English football, the little brother in a non-existent sibling rivalry for Leeds United fans, “dog botherers.” They’re not a club to worry about in any way whatsoever.

Well, unless you’re following their play in 2016/17.

Sadly, Uddersfield sits in fifth place, only two points behind Leeds United entering today’s noon match, with a game in hand on our Mighty Whites. A Leeds win today at John Smith’s Stadium would certainly help put the Terriers (and their god-awful supporters) back in their place, but a loss would put us behind the home team and behind the pace with just a third of the season remaining.

Sean Ryan wrote our match preview yesterday, and James Mahoney summed up a busy deadline day (and day after) in his transfer window recap. Read those this morning to get ready for this one, and come back here for the lineups as we get them.

Uddersfield hasn’t finished as high as 5th in the Championship (or second division) since... the 1970’s? They’re not relevant. Don’t let them be relevant. HEAR ME, LEEDS? Let’s stomp them today on their own pitch, put September’s loss WAAAYYY behind us, and move on to battling real clubs for automatic promotion in May. MOT.

Johnny Wakefield: Leeds 3-2. Don’t know what possessed me to write that we’d have a high-scoring match, but I did it. Oh wait, maybe it’s that I expect our new signings to play today, for our lads to remember that this one matters, for Uddersfield to put up a fight, and for everything we’ve been working for to come to fruition. This is a big match, don’t let us deny it afterwards should we fall... we need to beat Uddersfield on their own pitch today. It’s not do or die: an away game against a playoff team should always be difficult... but a win would be huge for momentum, for the table, for everything. Let’s get it. MOT.

James Mahoney: 2-1 Leeds. Throughout this season we have constantly referred to matches as 'a defining fixture' but today those words couldn't be more relevant. Regardless of personal opinion, Huddersfield are a very good side and Leeds will need to be on top form to walk away from Huddersfield with the points. However, I believe Leeds are the better side and will win after scoring 2 goals early in the 2nd half (Bartley & Wood) with Huddersfield scoring a consolation in the last 5 minutes.

Sean Ryan: Leeds 2-0. Leeds pulled a result out of their arse against Blackburn when the King himself Pontus Jansson nicked the winner with minutes to go. If nothing else, it proved that Leeds have the bottle to win games, something they haven’t being able to do in recent years. Leeds need a win, they need to keep the run going and Huddersfield is the perfect game to do it. It makes a massive statement and brings us closer to the promised land. Wood to bag both goals.