A second half Karlan Grant equaliser ensured Huddersfield Town a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic in the Sky Bet Championship.
The striker’s 12th goal of the season in all competitions had cancelled out Josh Windass’ opener to ensure both sides would take a point each from the DW Stadium.
Town Manager Danny Cowley opted for two changes from the side that started Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic. Danny Simpson came back in for Rarmani Edmonds-Green whilst Trevoh Chalobah returned to the XI from suspension.
Young midfielder Matty Daly took up a place on the bench again, from where he came on to score Town’s added time winner at the Valley in midweek.
The Terriers left it late in the Capital on Tuesday night but set out to get off on the front foot earlier at the DW Stadium with a succession of early forward drives by Junino Bacuna, but both were well cut out by the Wigan defence.
The home side continued to settle into the game and quickly began to dominate possession of the ball. They were limited in openings however, with Florent Hadergjonaj cutting out the only dangerous ball into the box, from Josh Windass on the left.
Town’s first effort on goal came on 32 minutes courtesy of Karlan Grant. After another of Juninho Bacuna’s powering runs forward from the no.10 position, he rolled it to Karlan Grant who took his shot first time, forcing Wigan ‘keeper Jamie Jones into a low stop.
After what had been a relatively uneventful first 45 minutes at the DW Stadium, a misplaced pass from Kamil Grabara allowed Wigan to take the lead shortly going into the break.
His ball intended for a Town midfielder was intercepted by Josh Windass who kept his composure to slot the hosts into a 43rd minute lead.
After half-time, Windass nearly found himself in luck once again, getting on to a ball along the backline from Danny Simpson but this time Grabara denied his effort before Jon Gorenc Stanković cleared the danger.
Having survived that scare, it was Bacuna darting forward again for the Terriers. The midfielder unleashed a powerful strike along the ground that Jamie Jones could only gather on the second attempt.
Town may have been denied then but couldn’t be after further persistence on 70 minutes. Karlan Grant worked space for a strike inside the box and beat Jones with his effort, as it rifled into the net to draw the Terriers level.
Steve Mounié had been causing problems for the Wigan defence since coming on and nearly headed Town in-front shortly after. His effort after connecting with Karlan Grant’s corner from the left was cleared off the line by Jamal Lowe.
The Terriers, playing in their fiery coral third kit, then needed a vital touch from Jon Stanković at the other end to put off substitute Anthony Pilkington who otherwise would have had a tap in at the back post.
Despite three minutes of added time, that turned out to be the last meaningful chance of the encounter as both sides shared the points at the DW Stadium.
Next up for Danny Cowley’s side is a return to the John Smith’s Stadium for the visit of Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 21 December 2019; 3pm kick-off.
WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1)
Jamie Jones; Antonee Robinson, Kal Naismith, Cédric Kipré, Nathan Byrne; Samy Morsy, Lee Evans; Michael Jacobs, Jamal Lowe (Joe Garner, 83’), Gavin Massey (Anthony Pilkington, 83’); Josh Windass
Unused subs
Dan Gyollai, Lewis MacLeod, Dujon Sterling, Gary Roberts, Chey Dunkley
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1)
Kamil Grabara; Florent Hadergjonaj, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Christopher Schindler (c), Danny Simpson; Jonathan Hogg, Trevoh Chalobah; Josh Koroma (Steve Mounié, 60’), Juninho Bacuna, Elias Kachunga; Karlan Grant
Unused subs
Joel Coleman, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Kian Harratt, Demeaco Duhaney, Matty Daly, Scott High
REFEREE
Stephen Martin
ATTENDANCE
10,383 (1,906 away)
