Looking for Liverpool’s opponent
Nottingham and Huddersfield battle it out in the final FA Cup fifth round match for a place in the quarter-finals. The winner of this match has a home game, the draw already took place. Opponents would be Liverpool FC.
But before this dream match can also be achieved, a potentially very gripping cup match must be survived. In any case, ahead of the Nottingham vs Huddersfield game, the odds indicate favouritism for the hosts.
However, this is not even that clear-cut and mainly justified with the home right. For in the Championship table, in which both teams play, Huddersfield actually have the advantage. The game kicks off on Monday evening at 20:30.
Nottingham – Statistics & current form
Nottingham Forest from the Championship are dreaming of reaching the quarter-finals in the FA Cup. The dress rehearsal before the game against Huddersfield went less than ideal with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield, but manager Steve Cooper’s side are nevertheless expecting a lot and want to knock Huddersfield out of the competition.
Their hopes are justified, as Nottingham have already knocked two top-flight sides out of the competition at home. In the 3rd round they managed to beat Arsenal 1-0 before Leicester City were even handed a 4-1 defeat. So Nottingham have a lot going for them, especially at home in the cup. Curiously, the team has a worse points tally at home than away in the domestic league.
The last few weeks have been very decent, with Nottingham not losing six competitive games in a row. In this time there have been three draws and three wins, in the league the Cooper eleven is currently in ninth place, it is only three points to the first play-off place. So promotion is not completely out of the question yet.
Nottingham need a good day
Nottingham’s stats in the Championship read solid. 46 goals are a decent value, the same goes for the 34 goals conceded by the team so far. However, both statistics are not outstanding and do not stand out from the competition. But in five of the last eleven matches, Nottingham have managed to keep a clean sheet defensively, which is something to build on.
Nevertheless, a cup game is always a completely different challenge and situation. Tactics also play a role, of course, but teams tend to take more risks when the closing stages arrive and a goal is needed. For this reason, ahead of the Nottingham vs Huddersfield game, our Value Tip is that both teams will go for goal.
Predicted Nottingham line-up:
Samba – Spence, Cook, Worrall, McKenna, Lowe – Garner, Colback, Ojeda – Zinckernagel, Surridge
Last Nottingham games:
Championship
03/04 2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 1 Nottingham Forest
02/26 2022 – Nottingham Forest 2 – 0 Bristol City
02/22 2022 – Preston 0 – 0 Nottingham Forest
02/12 2022 – Nottingham Forest 2 – 2 Stoke
02/09 2022 – Blackburn 0 – 2 Nottingham Forest
Huddersfield – Statistics & current form
Huddersfield are currently second in the Championship and in a direct promotion spot. Carlos Corberan has developed this team enormously this season, giving it a face and making it play very decent football in a 4-3-3 system. On Friday, they won 3-0 against Peterborough, which underlined their own ambitions.
You don’t always see the big spectacle from Huddersfield, with Ward the top scorer, who currently has eleven goals. The team is also strong on resting balls, scoring relatively often. In the FA Cup, they have so far managed to knock out Burnley and Barnsley, and the away win at the Premier League club in particular caused a stir.
Huddersfield have won four league games in a row. In any case, the team has only been in the play-off region permanently since matchday 30 and is living off a very good streak. The visitors have gone 15 consecutive games without defeat, which is a very, very good record.
Huddersfield rely on the series
The aim is to extend that streak, including in the cup. Although Huddersfield are not favourites in the cup due to Nottingham’s previous performances, the chances of an even, good game are not bad. In the league, meanwhile, the aim is direct promotion, although league leaders Fulham are probably out of reach. The Cottagers are eleven points ahead of Huddersfield and have two games in hand.
Huddersfield thrive on drawing many close games on their own side. Only two teams have conceded fewer defeats in the Championship. Defensively, the team is shaky at times, although a reaction has also been shown here in recent weeks and an improvement has been visible.
All in all, there is a lot to be said for a gripping cup duel between two teams that are not far apart. In the end, before the Nottingham vs Huddersfield game, our prediction is that the hosts will prevail.
Predicted Huddersfield line-up:
Nicholls – Pipa, Lees, Pearson, Toffolo – Eating, Hogg, O’Brien – Anjorin, Aarons, Ward
Last matches played by Huddersfield:
Championship
03/04 2022 – Huddersfield 3 – 0 Peterboro
02/26 2022 – Birmingham 0 – 2 Huddersfield
02/23 2022 – Huddersfield 2 – 1 Cardiff
02/19 2022 – Fulham 1 – 2 Huddersfield
02/12 2022 – Huddersfield 0 – 0 Sheffield United
Nottingham – Huddersfield Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
To date there have been 61 duels between these two sides, 25 of which have gone to Huddersfield. Nottingham won 19 matches, the remaining 17 ended in a draw. Huddersfield won the last game with a 1-0 away win at Nottingham, but the first leg this season went to Nottingham, even 2-0.
Nottingham – Huddersfield Tip
Both teams have a lot of qualities and have a chance to reach the quarter-finals. Huddersfield have a bit more going for them individually and are playing the better season overall, but that’s not enough to make them favourites.
As Nottingham have already knocked two big names out of the tournament at home this season, our prediction ahead of the Nottingham vs Huddersfield game is that the hosts will progress, possibly only after extra time or a penalty shoot-out.
