Stoke can take advantage of the Terriers’ lack of aggression.

HUDDERSFIELD, who lost in the Championship play-offs last year, will host Stoke on Saturday in search of their first points of the campaign, while Millwall will attempt to capitalize on home field against Coventry. 

As Northampton hosts Hartlepool in the lower tier, MK Dons travel to Ipswich in League One. 

See our predictions for four of the chosen games as we await another interesting set of 3pm kickoffs.

Stoke at Huddersfield (Saturday, 3pm) 

Many people anticipate that Huddersfield will falter against Stoke at home. 

The performance of Danny Schofield’s team has been so dismal that a victory would be a huge surprise.

The figures 

Burnley defeated Huddersfield 1-0 at home in their opening match after the Clarets completed more than 500 passes and had 70% of the possession. Huddersfield had no shots on goal in the game. 

When Preston completed more than 700 passes in their midweek 4-1 Carabao Cup demolition of the Terriers at John Smith’s Stadium, it served as further evidence that the Terriers had become much too easy to play against. 

While Millwall had the greatest home record in the division in 2022, Stoke have won two of their previous three away games after being defeated 2-0 at The Den on the opening weekend. 

Only one of the last 12 away Championship games for Michael O’Neill’s team has ended scoreless.

Prediction 

Huddersfield needed to recover from their away loss to Birmingham, one of the preseason favorites to be relegated, but Schofield’s team then put on a dismal performance against Preston. 

Schofield already appears to be out of his element, and Stoke has the ingenuity and firepower to give him that sinking sensation once more.

Coventry vs. Millwall (Saturday, 3pm) 

Two of the Championship’s draw masters from last season square off in South London, and Millwall’s match against Coventry appears to be headed for another deadlock.

The figures 

In their last 12 home league games, the Lions have only lost once, while Coventry has only lost four times in their previous 17 Championship away games. 

Last season, 15 of the Londoners’ 46 Championship games ended in draws, with Preston (16) generating more. 

Coventry got one point at The Den as a result of one of their eight league-high eight draws in 23 away games.

Historically, the Sky Blues have handled the daunting environment at Millwall’s stadium well, going undefeated in their last four visits with two victories and two draws.

Prediction 

Coventry won’t be intimidated by a trip to Millwall, and after having their match against Rotherham postponed last weekend, the Sky Blues will be anxious to get back in action and at least earn a point.

Ipswich vs MK Dons (Saturday, 3pm)

At Portman Road, Ipswich and MK Dons can offer some early-season promotion indications as defenses are likely to be in charge based on past encounters between these teams.

The figures 

Less than three goals have been scored in four of the last five encounters between Ipswich and MK Dons. 

This season, the Dons have not exceeded 2.5 match goals in any of their three games. 

The last four meetings between these clubs ended in draws, with Ipswich earning a point from a scoreless affair at Stadium MK last February.

Prediction 

MK Dons lost some important players over the summer, and Liam Manning’s team is still struggling to get into the same rhythm as the previous campaign, when they came just short of earning automatic promotion. 

When the final whistle sounds, a low-scoring game seems likely, with a tie also being a strong possibility.

Hartlepool vs. Northampton (Saturday, 3pm) 

Northampton, a team that narrowly missed securing automatic promotion last season, welcomes struggling Hartlepool to their home field in League Two.

The figures 

Six of Northampton’s past 11 League Two home games have ended in victories, including a 2-0 triumph over Pools in March. 

Hartlepool has lost both of their away games this season by a score of 4-0 and has lost their previous five league away games. 

Prediction 

Northampton has had a strong start to the season and should easily defeat a miserable Hartlepool. 

Since Paul Hartley’s team has yet to score this year, they should lose at Sixfields.