Huddersfield Town played out a 0-0 draw with Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship.
Yaya Sanogo’s missed penalty was the nearest the Terriers came to an all-important goal, with Fraizer Campbell also going close late on but the points were shared in the Friday night encounter at the John Smith’s Stadium
Carlos Corberán made three changes from the draw with Birmingham on the same ground three days earlier.
Richard Keogh and Aaron Rowe returned to the XI while Yaya Sanogo made his first start for the Terriers since joining the Club last month.
Under the Friday night lights it was the visitors who had the game’s first opportunity. Joe Ralls drove into space from midfield before unleashing a low strike that was charged down by a Town defender.
Up the other end, there were similar fortunes for Lewis O’Brien who produced almost a carbon copy of his fellow no.8’s strike, with his driven effort deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands.
With both sides attempting to assert themselves on the contest chances were hard to come by, but Ryan Schofield had to be on his toes to keep out Will Vaulks in the closing stages of the half.
The Cardiff midfielder caught a cleared corner sweetly on the volley with Town’s ‘keeper springing across to his right to parry it away.
After the break, it was Richard Keogh who went close for Town shortly after the hour mark. Town’s no.15 connected with Juninho Bacuna’s free-kick from a deep area, glancing just wide of the goal.
With just under 20 minutes to play, Town were presented with an opportunity to go ahead. After a neat combination from Yaya Sanogo and Lewis O’Brien, the ball fell to Aaron Rowe who was brought down inside the area, with referee Tim Robinson pointing to the penalty spot.
Sanogo, on his first Town start, stepped up to take it but placed it wide to the left of the target with the deadlock staying intact.
The Terriers had battled well throughout the evening to limit potential openings for the Bluebirds at the other end, but the visitors did get a sight on goal after 79 minutes.
Harry Wilson found Thomas Sang just inside the right side of the penalty area with the wing-back’s strike deflecting off a Town defender and into the side-netting.
From one end to another, it was Pipa’s opportunity at the other end moments later. The Spaniard, who was playing from the left, was slipped in by O’Brien and after bursting onto the through-ball his effort was charged down on the rush by Cardiff ‘keeper Dillon Phillips.
The chances continued to come for Town with the next one arriving from a corner from the left. Naby Sarr knocked down a recycled ball into the path of Fraizer Campbell but the forward couldn’t keep his acrobatic effort down.
Campbell's effort turned out to be Town's final look in at a winner as the points were shared soon after in West Yorkshire.
Next up for Town is a visit to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday 13 March 2021; 3pm kick-off.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-5-2)
Ryan Schofield; Naby Sarr, Richard Keogh, Rarmani Edmonds-Green; Aaron Rowe (Richard Stearman, 90'), Álex Vallejo, Lewis O’Brien, Juninho Bacuna, Pipa; Yaya Sanogo (Kieran Phillips, 77’), Fraizer Campbell
Unused subs
Joel Pereira; Duane Holmes, Demeaco Duhaney, Isaac Mbenza, Romoney Crichlow, Jaden Brown, Scott High
CARDIFF CITY (3-4-1-2)
Dillon Phillips; Curtis Nelson, Aden Flint, Sean Morrison (c); Joel Bagan (Ciaron Brown, 38’), Joe Ralls, Will Vaulks, Thomas Sang; Harry Wilson (Marlon Pack, 86’); Kieffer Moore, Josh Murphy (Sheyi Ojo, 58’)
Unused subs
Alex Smithies; Leandro Bacuna, Jonny Williams, Mark Harris, Junior Hoilett, Rubin Colwill
REFEREE
Tim Robinson