It's not a case of getting back to the drawing board but Bristol City's defeat on Saturday felt like a small setback in terms of their progression.
Perhaps it was amplified in the knowledge of it being a local derby, while the injury losses of Tomas Kalas and Joe Williams are a considerable blow to both players and manager with City's squad already on the thin side.
While we await an update from Nigel Pearson on the severity of their respective problems, the initial reaction suggests they could both be missing for a considerable time. Williams has endured another hamstring issue, while Kalas appears to have sustained a knee problem that could conceivably rule him out for the rest of the season.
Therefore, Pearson will be forced to make at least two changes to the side that lost at Cardiff as he looks to regain the momentum that saw them go 12 games unbeaten before coming up against Manchester City. Neil Warnock will relish taking on his foes given his previous history with City but his relegation-threatened Huddersfield team head into the contest with their egos bruised.
They suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Coventry at the weekend, on the back of another 4-0 loss at Burnley the week previously. The Terriers sit rooted to the foot of the Championship, seven points adrift of Cardiff and will come into this fixture desperate not to be cut further adrift.
Here's how we think City will shape up to take on Warnock's struggling side.
Goalkeeper and defence
Max O'Leary hasn't been able to celebrate a victory since extending his contract at the beginning of last week and may feel he could have done better with Jaden Philogene's strike from distance on Saturday which beat him at the near post. However, there were plenty of bright moments from the City No1, especially coming out and dominating his area from Cardiff's aerial threat.
That aspect of his game is likely to be tested again later this evening with a Warnock side happy to go direct and play for the percentages when needed. He'll start in goal with Nikita Haikin on the bench and awaiting his first opportunity in City colours.
Kalas' injury means another reshuffle in central defence with Kal Naismith also sidelined until after the international break due to a calf injury. Starting at right-back, however, George Tanner is likely to continue to keep his place which gives Pearson the flexibility to go more attacking if needed later in the contest.
In the last four matches, Tanner has been replaced leaving Mark Sykes to drop back into his position which then allows the manager to bring on another attack-minded player. Nahki Wells was the player introduced at the weekend with Harry Cornick occupying a position on the right wing.
In the middle, Pearson's lack of options means the centre-back pairing almost picks itself. Zak Vyner, ever-present this season, will start with Cam Pring set to move across to partner him. Pring has played in that position before, albeit in a three, earlier in the campaign and midway through last season, and has proven he's more than adept at providing cover, although it's far from ideal as a medium-term solution.
Positionally, he may be found wanting which would be understandable given it's not his natural role but his pace and physicality mean he is able to make up for covering any ground, plus he's pretty strong in the air. Naturally, Jay Dasilva will come into the fold at left-back as he looks set to make his first league start since the 0-0 draw with Watford on December, 12.
Tanner could also move across as a centre-back but with two right-footed players alongside each other in Vyner, Pring offers a better balance, especially in possession. There's also the fact that there's not the same level of competition on the right, as Pearson still wants to give Kane Wilson extra time to recover from his knee injury, therefore doesn't have a ready-made replacement to slot into the role should Tanner move inside.
Midfield
It's another dilemma for Pearson given Williams' absence. While it's devastating for the player, it's a real shame for the side with Williams, Matty James and Alex Scott all forging a positive understanding and partnership in a three-pronged midfield.
James and Scott will start again but the big question is where on the field the latter plays. On Saturday, Scott dropped back into a No8 role with Andi Weimann taking up a position behind the striker. The Austrian couldn't influence proceedings and City lacked that driving force going forward which Scott has been so proficient at over the last couple of months.
Therefore, Pearson has three viable and realistic options. The first would be to start where City left off and have Weimann in that advanced role. However, he may be reluctant to go down that route on reflection of Saturday's showing.
The second could be to bring Anis Mehmeti into the No10 position, with Scott and James playing behind him. The deadline day signing can fill that role, with Pearson noting his versatility, which could mean Sam Bell may come across to a wider position where his pace causes problems in behind.
The final, and most likely option, would be to introduce Andy King into defensive midfield. Like Dasilva, he hasn't started a game this year which came in the loss against West Brom on Boxing Day.
Playing as the deepest midfielder allows Scott to have that freedom to break the lines in transition and team up alongside Mehmeti on the left. He also provides experience and leadership in the middle which may prove a factor in going up against Warnock who will have his side riled up to get one over the City fanbase.
Attack
Warnock talked up City's attacking options ahead of this contest by suggesting Pearson has a front four that is among the best in the Championship. The recent numbers don't particularly back up that claim having scored four in their last six with two of those coming from the penalty spot.
Pearson will be hoping for more from his frontmen following the blank at Cardiff and that means he may change personnel. Sam Bell found it difficult to get involved against physical central defenders in Mark McGuinness and Cédric Kipré playing through the middle.
It's likely to be no different at Huddersfield and therefore Pearson could bring Nahki Wells back into the frame. He played 30 minutes at the weekend and should be relatively fresh to maintain City's tactics in pressing from the front. He also offers more of a focal point in attack without forgetting the fact he's also the club's top scorer with 11 Championship strikes this season.
Another option would be to bring Harry Cornick into the central role. Similarly with Wells, he's more of a target man from set-pieces but he's yet to kick-start his career at City since his move in January. Most new signings need time to settle and Cornick will be no different having been played both in the centre and out wide during his bit-part roles.
That brings us to the right side and Mark Sykes is likely to be the candidate to start again if Pearson resists the temptation to bring in fresh legs. Sykes has played the full 90 minutes in City's last four matches within two weeks and given the distance he covers down that flank, there's a likelihood he could be feeling the fatigue.
Alongside Cornick, Weimann can also come into that position although his versatility means he's a really viable option to have off the bench with his energy. Although his recent run of form arguably doesn't justify his spot in the starting XI at the moment.
On the opposite flank, Mehmeti is set to start again and will hope to have more joy than he did against the Bluebirds. His first goal for City is coming, having hit the woodwork twice while missing that chance in the first half of the Severnside derby.
Bell is also pushing for a start in that wide position but Pearson can turn to his pace from the bench to exploit tired legs on the counter-attack. Fellow academy product Tommy Conway misses out with a hamstring injury.
Bristol City (4-3-3, probable): Max O'Leary; George Tanner, Zak Vyner, Cam Pring, Jay Dasilva; Andy King, Matty James, Alex Scott; Mark Sykes, Nahki Wells, Anis Mehmeti
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