Added time Patino strike denies the Terriers another win
- Swansea City 1-1 Huddersfield Town
- Added time equaliser from the home side
- Third minute own goal had given Town the lead
Town were denied a second successive away win inside four days by an added time equaliser from hosts Swansea City, having led for the best part of 90 minutes.
Darren Moore’s side led when Jaheim Headley’s cross was turned home by a defender in the third minute and we defended stoutly for most of the game, only for Charlie Patino to grab an added time equaliser.
Darren Moore made two changes to the side that was victorious at Sunderland four days ago. Josh Koroma and Delano Burgzorg, who had made their first start since injury at the Stadium of Light, were substitutes, so Danny Ward made his first start since picking up an Achilles injury in September alongside Yuta Nakayama.
Those changes meant Jaheim Headley moved forward into the left side of the front three and he had a big role in the third minute opener for Town. Having intercepted a poor pass from Swansea captain Matt Grimes, he outpaces the same player to get level with the penalty area on the left before sending in a low cross, that centre back Ben Cabango mistakenly placed past his own goalkeeper at full stretch!
The game plan was unchanged from our recent games, with the Terriers – sporting the Utilita Giving black kit in South Wales – happy to soak up pressure in a structured defensive shape and trying to break with pace on the counter.
As the half continued, Swansea had some presentable chances. Cabango headed Liam Walsh’s 18th minute corner over the crossbar from a decent position in the area and then former Town man Jamie Paterson drifted in from his position on Swansea’s left side to see his left footed snapshot deflected inches wide.
Midfielder Walsh’s well-hit half volley from 25 yards was claimed by Maxwell as the half continued, and then Town had an opportunity to shoot at the other end when David Kasumu was tripped around 25 yards out. Wales international Sorba Thomas stepped forward and hit the target with his effort, but goalkeeper Carl Rushworth moved right to save and claim the ball.
Swansea’s best opening of the half came five minutes before the interval. Walsh’s pass into the penalty area set fellow midfielder Jay Fulton into space, but Maxwell got his angles right to narrow the angle and make the save before Nakayama cleared the rebound.
Moore’s men had a big chance of their own to double the advantage just before the interval. Thomas won a free kick from Josh Tymon near the corner flag and although his first delivery was cleared, Headley advanced again before clipping a perfect cross onto the head of Ward. On his 250th appearance for the club, the striker was visibly disappointed not to do better with his effort – placing the ball too close to the goalkeeper when in space.
Swansea boss Michael Duff made three changes in the interval, among them bringing on home debutant and instant fan favourite Yannick Bolasie.
Town almost gifted Swansea a route back into the game just three minutes into the half when Nakayama’s attempted header back to Maxwell put Yates clear on goal. Fortunately Helik did brilliantly, getting back level with the striker and levering him off the ball to avert the danger.
Bolasie made an instant impact and tried a spectacular effort soon after, chesting down a cross field pass before stepping inside and trying to volley home from 30 yards out. Although the ball never truly troubled Maxwell as it flew over the crossbar, it got the home fans on their feet.
Jamal Lowe soon got behind the Town defence to the dead ball line before hammering the ball into the six yard box, but it hit the well-placed Pearson before bouncing into the hands of Maxwell.
Town kept trying to break when possible, with Kasumu’s deflected shot forcing the home custodian into work just before the hour mark, but Swansea were still in control of the ball for the majority.
Harry Darling went close to scoring as the half progressed with a long range effort that swerved and dipped in front of Maxwell, forcing our ‘keeper to turn the ball over with his feet in unorthodox fashion! The replays showed that the 33-year-old had done well to get anything on the ball.
Maxwell saved much more comfortably from Grimes as the half moved on, whilst the lively Delano Burgzorg tested the goalkeeper at the other end with a fierce drive from a tight angle after good work from Josh Koroma.
As we played the additional minutes of added time, the Terriers were denied the three points by a late strike from substitute Charlie Patino. Town were looking for a foul when Paterson bundled into Jonathan Hogg, but nothing was given and that allowed Patino to advance to the edge of the box before beating Maxwell low to his right with a well-placed curling shot.
Swansea had a massive chance to win the game late on when Darling got on the end of a deep corner, but he headed over when it seemed harder to miss.
Town’s team (3-4-3)
Chris Maxwell; Matty Pearson, Michał Helik, Tom Lees; Ben Jackson (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 61’), David Kasumu, Jonathan Hogg (c), Yuta Nakayama; Sorba Thomas, Danny Ward (Josh Koroma, 67’), Jaheim Headley (Delano Burgzorg, 67’)
Unused substitutes
Jacob Chapman; Brahima Diarra, Tom Edwards, Josh Austerfield, Loick Ayina, Tom Iorpenda
Town bookings
Sorba Thomas (87’), David Kasumu (90+7’)
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