Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning has picked out the one player his side needs to stop when they face Blackpool.
The Terriers sit 6th in League One, six points above Luton Town in 7th, although they have played a game more than the Hatters.
Last weekend, they beat Peterborough United 3-2 to make it three wins in a row.
This week, Huddersfield Town face relegation-threatened Blackpool. Despite the Tangerines struggling, Manning understands it will be a tough game. He also complimented one player in particular, Ashley Fletcher.
Blackpool “Tough Team to Play Against”
Speaking to Yorkshire Live in his pre-match press conference, Manning said he is aware of the challenge Blackpool will pose:
“A tough team to play against, and Ashley Fletcher, in terms of in form, when you look at his goal return (12 in the league) – I think they’ve obviously added in the window as well, so it’s another extremely tough game.”
The Terriers boss went on to explain that he will never take a game lightly because when you do, “you’re in trouble”.
Is Manning Right to Pinpoint Fletcher?
The former Manchester United academy forward has found his form at Blackpool after several years of treading water.
Aged 30, his 12 goals this season mean he has made it back-to-back double-figure hauls in a season for the first time. His tally this season is also his best to date.
The ex-Sheffield Wednesday attacker has been a constant threat for Blackpool. He’s averaged 1.6 shots per game, 0.8 shots on target per game, and currently has a goal every 175 minutes in League One.
As well as being a threat in front of the goal, the attacker has been a creative threat. He has chipped in with four assists and averaged 0.8 key passes per game.
Fletcher’s performances this season in the league have received an average WhoScored rating of 7.06, which is the highest in the Seasiders team.
His standout performance this season, according to WhoScored, came against Cardiff City. The Englishman received a perfect 10, scoring two and assisting another.
Manning will need to make sure his side are prepared to handle the threat Fletcher possesses if they want to pick up all three points.