TOWN 2 POSH 2
Town fail to secure three points
A late Dwight Gayle goal cancelled out Murray Wallace’s first goal in Town colours as the Terriers had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Neil Danns had earlier put Town ahead after reaction first to Oliver Norwood’s effort before Lee Tomlin levelled after the break.
Chances were at a plenty throughout, but neither side had the composure to take a grip of the game.
Town made three changes for the clash with centre-half Anthony Gerrard missing the gamethrough a calf injury, Scotland U21 international Murray Wallace deputised. Scott Arfield replaced the injured Danny Ward while Calum Woods replaced Jack Hunt after the right back picked up a hamstring injury.
Town started the game the brightest as Oliver Norwood sent a lofted ball into striker James Vaughan just outside the area. The on-loan forward touched the ball down to Sean Scannell on the left-hand side who cut inside, but his rasping shot from the edge of the area was just wide of Robert Olejnik’s goal in the 2nd minute.
The visitors, who sat below Town in the Championship table, were next to have a shy on goal. A parry away by Olejnik was collected by Lee Tomlin who sent Mendez-Laing through on goal but his effort deflected off Alex Smithies. The ball trickled towards the goal, but Captain Peter Clarke made a heroic clearance to keep Town level.
With both teams struggling to gain any momentum over the next period of the first half, the game had to wait over 15 minutes for the next real opening. Creative midfielder, Norwood, was again at the heart of Town’s attacking options and his inviting cross was parried away by Olejnik, who was the busier of the two ‘keepers in the first half.
With the end of the first half looming, it was Town that broke the deadlock between the two relegation threatened sides. Irish midfielder Norwood’s 25-yard drive was saved by Olejnik, but winger Neil Danns was on hand to put Town ahead from eight yards.
Town started the second half with growing confidence after their goal. Livewire Scannell tested Posh’s resilience with a shot from the edge of the area in the 47th minute.
Posh then changed their formation to a four-man midfield which proved an instant success. A driving run from Mendez-Laing into the area caused Town problems as the winger squared the ball to Lee Tomlin who smashed the ball past Smithies for the vital equaliser.
Tomlin was at the centre of the visitor’s next chance in the 56th minute. His flick over the last line of defence was run onto by the lighting quick Gayle. Calum Woods’ recovering tackle sent the forward tumbling and the full-back received a yellow card for his tackle. Grant McCann curled the resulting free-kick over the bar.
The visitors attempted to freshen the game up in the final quarter with a double substitution as Tyrone Barnett and Danny Swanson were introduced at the expense of Grant McCann and Mendez-Laing.
Town then regained the lead in the 68th minute as Oliver Norwood’s inviting delivery was glanced home by Murray Wallace for his first goal for the Terriers.
After the goal, Town looked to regain control of the match and Sean Scannell’s pace on the right hand side was a constant thorn in the visitor’s side. Resilient work from top scorer James Vaughan up-front cemented the Terriers position going into the final stages of the game.
Posh continued to push Town all the way until the end of the game and they won a corner in the 85th minute. Tomlin’s deliver was met by the head of Gayle and the ball nestled nicely in the bottom of the corner.
The visitors looked the most likely to score the winner and had it not been for Clarke’s clearance on the line they would have stolen all three points.
Huddersfield Town’s Team (4-2-3-1):
Alex Smithies; Paul Dixon, Peter Clarke (C), Murray Wallace, Calum Woods; Oliver Norwood, Oscar Gobern (Beckford, 58); Neil Danns, Scott Arfield, Sean Scannell; James Vaughan (Alan Lee, 90)
Unused Substitutes:
Ian Bennett, Lee Novak, Tom Clarke, Chris Atkinson, Joel Lynch
Huddersfield Town Bookings: Oscar Gobern (45) Calum Woods (56) Jermaine Beckford (62) James Vaughan (78)
Peterborough Bookings: Nathaniel Knight Percival (66)
