The big Huddersfield Town red flag Lee Grant must sort - It could affect promotion chances | OneFootball

The Terriers' defensive shortcomings have been ruthlessly exposed recently

At the start of the season, many EFL onlookers pinpointed Huddersfield Town among a cluster of clubs as a prime candidate for promotion in League One.

The Terriers, much like a handful of rivals within the third-tier, are able to boast recent Premier League pedigree, which is often a major play when recruiting new staff and players in comparison to clubs at the opposite end of the spectrum.

One day, the West Yorkshire side will hope to return to their former standpoint. But for now, the sole aim on owner Kevin Nagle's mind is making a swift return to the Championship.

Town's drab relegation season of 2023/24 alerted the American that a major reset must be conducted. However, following the most dismal of periods under Michael Duff and subsequent interim boss, Jon Worthington, Town find themselves in a similar position just over 12 months later as they look to rectify their 10th-place finish last term, which represented the club's lowest overall position since the 2006/07 campaign.

As such, Lee Grant was appointed as Duff's eventual permanent successor in June, with Nagle hoping that the former Manchester United, Stoke City and Burnley goalkeeper can translate his prior success as Kieran McKenna's understudy at Ipswich Town into a new era at the Accu Stadium.

Yet, despite the early signs being good, recent outings have indicated a major red flag which the 42-year-old has to address sooner rather than later.

Huddersfield Town have been leaking far too many goals in recent League One outings

In his first pre-season, Grant oversaw plenty of change to the Town squad, welcoming the likes of Owen Goodman, Lynden Gooch, Sean Roughan, Murray Wallace, Joe Low, Jack Whatmough and Owen Feeney to his defensive ranks in the process.

All seven names brought with them a strong mix of either high potential mixed with current ability or a vast array of experiences at higher levels, giving Grant a nice blend when forming a strong rearguard after the Terriers shipped 55 goals in 46 games last term.

Goodman had preserved 21 clean sheets on loan at AFC Wimbledon from Crystal Palace last term, Low was integral to Wycombe Wanderers' play-off finish, whilst the duo of Wallace and Whatmough had previously become 'household' Championship names.

With promotion campaigns often built off the back of a tight-knit defence, the early signs to back up such claims as Town shipped just two goals in their opening five games, four of them being victories over Leyton Orient, Reading, Doncaster Rovers and Stevenage.

Yet, since the turn of the month, Grant's defensive structure is nowhere to be seen, having started in a 3-0 defeat at Barnsley on August 30th, where Goodman was dismissed for a rash challenge on David McGoldrick, whilst his replacement, the normally-dependable Lee Nicholls has been unable to halt the downturn in fortunes.

With the side conceding eight times in three games, six of which have come against fellow early-season fast starters in the form of Barnsley and Bradford City, Grant must find a solution, with other sides in the promotion shakeup demonstrating exactly what is required.

Cardiff City have showcased the defensive solidity required to mount League One promotion bid

Cardiff City are another third-tier 'giant' that oversaw a managerial appointment in the summer, with Brian Barry-Murphy taking over in South Wales, and so far, to an outstanding effect.

Although some would argue that, pound-for-pound, the Bluebirds' squad is still stronger on paper than that of Huddersfield, it isn't the creative flair and goalscoring spark provided by the likes of Rubin Colwill, Chris Willock and Youssef Salech that has been the root cause of City's unbeaten start.

Cardiff owe much of their current double-figure goal difference to the performances of their rearguard, who have racked up five clean sheets in seven games, with Nathan Trott leading the individual way in terms of shutouts, save percentage and a remarkable xG prevented of 4.0.

As a result, they have conceded just 0.3 times on average in comparison to Huddersfield's 1.6, and are the only side yet to concede from open play, with goals for Bradley Ihionvein and Oliver Norwood of Peterborough United and Stockport County coming from the penalty spot.

Of course, with there still being 38 games to go, it remains to be seen if such remarkable feats can be maintained, but it is certainly giving them the edge over Grant's men, who will be hoping to rectify their recent shortcomings against Burton Albion on Saturday.