Huddersfield v Brighton
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: The John Smith's Stadium
Date: Saturday 9th December 2017
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Edward Smart, Andrew Halliday
Fourth official: Michael Jones
TEAM NEWS
Huddersfield boss David Wagner is likely to choose from an unchanged squad, with Martin Cranie hopeful of recovering from a minor ankle problem.
Rajiv van La Parra serves the final game of a three-match ban, while Michael Hefele, Philip Billing and Jon Gorenc Stankovic remain injured.
Brighton & Hove Albion have no new fitness concerns for Saturday's game.
Steve Sidwell is still sidelined by a back problem but he is the only player unavailable for the Seagulls.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: "David Wagner says it's not 'must win"' and he's right - it's December. It is, though, a game that both sides will have targeted as very important.
"At home, the onus is on Wagner's Terriers, who seemed to lack the belief to score at Everton last weekend.
"They have to be much improved in attack for this, with beating those around them key to their Premier League fate.
"Brighton have been better in such matches so far - winning four and losing only one of eight games against current bottom-half teams. Huddersfield have won and lost three of seven such matches.
"It should be tight. It might be on the tense side."
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Huddersfield head coach David Wagner: "A must-win game is a final, where you have no chance to correct something, and this isn't the case on Saturday.
"But it's a massive game for all of us and a great opportunity in front of our supporters to play Brighton and be in front of them after the game.
"There are so many important stories in this game. This is why it's a big game, but it's not a must-win game because a lot more will follow after this."
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton: "One area I've been delighted with so far this season is our away performances - and they bring about good results, which we've managed to achieve so far this season.
"That will need to be the case on Saturday because they [Huddersfield] are a side who have been very solid at home. They've got a vocal crowd and we will have to make sure we can put in a performance."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
[*=left]Huddersfield won this fixture 3-1 at the John Smith's Stadium in February but that is their only victory in the last 10 games against Brighton (D5, L4).
[*=left]Three of Brighton's last four trips to Huddersfield have ended in 1-1 draws.
Huddersfield
[*=left]The Terriers have won just two of their past 13 league games, losing the last four.
[*=left]They last suffered five consecutive league defeats in January 1993, whilst in the third tier.
[*=left]Huddersfield have scored the fewest second-half goals in the Premier League this season (three) and have conceded the most after the break (19).
[*=left]Only four Huddersfield players have scored in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other team.
[*=left]Tom Ince has attempted 32 shots without scoring in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.
Brighton
[*=left]The Seagulls have conceded just seven goals in as many away league games this season. It is the third-best record in the top flight, behind Manchester City (four) and Chelsea (five).
[*=left]They have only lost one of eight league games this season against sides currently in the bottom half of the table (W4, D3).
[*=left]Anthony Knockaert has had a hand in eight goals in seven appearances against Huddersfield in all competitions, scoring five and setting up three.
[*=left]Lewis Dunk has scored three own goals this season - one shy of the record in a single Premier League campaign, set by Martin Skrtel with Liverpool in 2013-14.
[*=left]Glenn Murray has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League games, one more than he managed in his previous 33 appearances in the competition.
It is fecking cold - in the midlands, not going to game but need bloody gloves in my bedroom
