Huddersfield vs Exeter City Prediction

Right then, let's have a look at this League One clash. Huddersfield, sitting pretty in 5th, welcome an Exeter City side who are down in 20th and looking over their shoulder. On paper, it's a bit of a mismatch, but as we know, football isn't played on paper... unless you're doing the pools.

Huddersfield are the form team coming into this. They've lost just twice in their last ten, and they've been banging in the goals for fun – 20 in that spell. Their recent home games have been particularly tasty: a 5-0 demolition of Port Vale and a 2-0 win over Northampton. They're averaging nearly 18 shots a game at home and bossing possession. They look like a proper side on their own patch.

Exeter, on the other hand, are a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act. At home, they're decent – just look at that 3-0 win over Barnsley. But on the road? It's grim reading. One win in their last five away trips, and they've only managed to score a paltry 0.4 goals per game on their travels. They're tight at the back generally, keeping six clean sheets in ten, but they've been breached for 1.6 goals per game away from home. They lost 1-0 at Cardiff, 2-1 at Bolton, and 4-0 at Luton recently. That tells you all you need to know about their struggles against better sides away from home.

The head-to-head makes for even better reading if you're a Terriers fan. Huddersfield have won three of the last four meetings, including a 1-0 win earlier this season. More importantly, in the last two visits by Exeter to this ground, it's finished 2-0 to Huddersfield. They clearly know how to handle this lot.

So, what's the bet? The bookies have Huddersfield at 1.55 to win. That's short, but sometimes the obvious pick is the right one. Exeter's away attack is so blunt I'd be surprised if they trouble the scorers. Huddersfield are flying, they're dominant at home, and they've got the historical edge. This has all the makings of a comfortable home win, potentially to nil.

Key Points:

Huddersfield are 5th, in strong form, scoring an average of 2 goals per game.

Exeter are 20th and dreadful away, scoring just 0.4 goals per game on the road.

Huddersfield have won 3 of the last 4 H2H meetings, including both at home (2-0, 2-0).

Huddersfield average 17.75 shots and 59% possession at home.

• Exeter have lost 4 of their last 5 away games.

Summary: All the data points one way. Huddersfield are strong at home, Exeter are weak travellers. The value, even at short odds, lies with the home win. I'm backing Huddersfield to get the job done.