A second goalless draw of the season between Town and Cardiff, this time, in the Welsh Capital where chances were few and far between.
Both sides huffed and puffed but the opening wasn't to be, with the key moment coming mid-way through the second-half as Town was initially awarded a penalty only for it to be overturned by referee Lee Mason.
Jason Puncheon made his Premier League debut for the Club in South Wales, as Steve Mounié lead the line to celebrate his 50th appearance for Town in all competitions. Philip Billing also celebrated a milestone occasion; his 50th league start.
A frantic start with a goalmouth scramble. Elias Kachunga was unable to force goalwards as Alex Pritchard's free-kick wasn't cleared by the hosts.
Neil Warnock's Bluebirds have always possessed a strong degree of physicality, and right-back turned striker Callum Paterson lurked to latch onto the end of a Junior Hoilett only to find Jonas Lössl nimble enough to punch clear.
As it was the men from HD1 who took control of the ball early on, league debutant Puncheon flashed inches wide with a low drive from distance in conclusion to a neat move which started from Philip Billing's positivity to drive from deep.
Despite seeing most of the ball, the home side did look a threat on the counter. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing outmuscled Erik Durm to advance down the right and cross dangerously for Hoilett. The Canadian, under pressure from Florent Hadergjonaj, couldn't find the target and arguably the best chance of the encounter 15 minutes in came and went in the blink of an eye; a definite warning.
But back came the illuminous Terriers. Steve Mounié drifted down the channel to cross for Puncheon who just couldn't get the better of Joe Bennett in the area to force Neil Etheridge into action.
Bennett then vitally blocked Elias Kachunga from finding the corner as the DR Congo international received a clever reverse pass from Puncheon; encouraging signs for David Wagner as his side hunted that elusive opener at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Etheridge had to be alert to tip over a skewed clearance, as Town looked in the mood to leave South Wales with a much-needed reward.
For all the attacking was, Cardiff didn't only pose a threat from a counter, but at set pieces too. Ex-Terrier Sean Morrison rose highest at the far post to head back across goal for Sol Bamba, but the linesman's flag came to a relieving rescue before the defender could slide home into an empty net.
A succession of corners opened up the second period to which nothing would come to fruition, but a swift break was a promising chance for the opener. Alex Pritchard sprung the offside trap, and with numbers surging forward, Pritch couldn't find the right delivery to find one of the arriving cavalry as a golden chance to capitalise on a numerical advantage went begging.
Town was definitely the side in the ascendancy; all that lacked was that little bit of extra quality in the final third to create further clear-cut opportunities.
Then a moment that may well have been a turning point. Referee Lee Mason initially awarded a penalty to the Terriers as Florent Hadergjonaj looked to have been fouled in the area by Joe Bennett. But, after consultation with the linesman, Mason overturned his decision.
It didn't spur either side on to go and find the winner, although substitute Laurent Depoitre thought he'd won it at the end with a looping header which almost caught out Etheridge. Lolo's attempt looked to be dropping in right at the death, and as tensions rose, it wasn't to be as Town left the Welsh Capital with a point.
Next up, Manchester City visit HD1 in-front of the Super Sunday cameras (20 January 2019, 1:30pm).
TOWN (4-3-2-1)
Jonas Lössl; Erik Durm, Christopher Schindler, Mathias Zanka, Florent Hadergjonaj; Philip Billing, Jonathan Hogg (c), Jason Puncheon; Alex Pritchard (Isaac Mbenza, 73'), Elias Kachunga; Steve Mounié (Laurent Depoitre, 87')
UNUSED SUBS
Ben Hamer, Tommy Smith, Chris Löwe, Jon Gorenc Stanković, Terence Kongolo,
CARDIFF CITY
Neil Etheridge; Joe Bennett, Sol Bamba, Sean Morrison (c), Bruno Ecuele Manga; Harry Arter, Aron Gunnarsson, Victor Camarasa (Joe Ralls, 64'); Junior Hoilett, Callum Paterson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Rhys Healey, 73')
UNUSED SUBS
Alex Smithies, Lee Peltier, Greg Cunningham, Joshua Murphy, Bobby Decordova-Reid
REFEREE
Lee Mason
GATE
30,725
