Huddersfield Town's unnoticed record sets standard for Preston North End trip

As we entered the new year, it looked like the Terriers were going to largely avoid midweek games. But their 2-0 win over Derby County last Wednesday night was moved forward from the Saturday to fit in their subsequent FA Cup win over Barnsley.

That has, in turn, given Huddersfield Town another midweek game to contend with: their fifth round trip to Nottingham Forest will be played on week commencing 28th February, making it their fourth midweek fixture in four weeks after Derby (h), Preston (a) and Cardiff (h).

Usually, that addition of extra games to the schedule would be a bit intimidating, especially since Town didn’t win a single one of their midweek games after the turn of the New Year last season.

This time, though, it’s a different story. Carlos Corberan pointed out after his side claimed a 2-0 win over the Rams that Town have only lost one of their nine evening kick-offs in the league this season.

Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest and Derby have all been beaten, while the games against Birmingham, Peterborough and Stoke have ended in draws. The only side to get the better of Town in a night-time Championship game this campaign are Queens Park Rangers, who claimed a 1-0 win at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

That has given Town 18 points from those nine games – more than they managed in their 19 midweek games last season, and a better return on the basis of points per game (2.00) than Town have managed in their weekend games this term (1.43).

Where Town do need to learn to be better is in the weekend games immediately following those midweek fixtures.

They did well on that front in their first such games of the season, winning away at Sheffield United and beating Reading 4-0 after