Town must settle for a point in Lancashire.
- Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Huddersfield Town
- Michał Helik scores after early goal for the hosts
- Town can’t convert any of three big chances to win
Town had to settle for a point against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park after coming from behind, despite creating three other clear-cut chances.
Michał Helik netted his eighth Sky Bet Championship goal of the season from another Sorba Thomas assist to equalise after an error allowed Blackburn to take an early lead.
After that, we created three big chances, but failed to capitalise and send the travelling fans home happy.
Manager Darren Moore handed a debut to new signing Rhys Healey up front, facilitating this change by switching Sorba Thomas to right wing back in the now customary 3-5-2 formation.
The sides traded possession early on before a big error gifted Blackburn their seventh minute lead. Comfortable in possession, skipper Jonathan Hogg got his attempted pass to Brodie Spencer all wrong, giving possession straight to midfielder Adam Wharton. He advanced unopposed into the penalty area before beating Lee Nicholls from point blank range in front of the 2,000+ travelling Town fans.
Town looked understandably shocked for a few moments after that setback, and Blackburn skipper Dom Hyam soon headed into Nicholls’ hands from the second phase of a corner.
However, the men in acid lime soon regained their composure and started to probe the Blackburn defence.
First Healey received a low pass inside the Blackburn area, went on his left side and tested goalkeeper Aynsley Pears with a low shot.
Then Ben Jackson’s cross was cleared behind, giving Town a left-sided corner. Up stepped former Blackburn loanee Thomas to curl a pacey ball towards the near post, where Helik rose highest to expertly nod the ball across the goalkeeper and inside the far post to pull Town level.
A couple of head injuries to Healey and Alex Matos curtailed the momentum after the equaliser, but there was still time for Town to create one massive opportunity.
Just after Blackburn had a penalty claim waved away when striker Sam Gallagher and Spencer crossed paths and went down in the area, Josh Koroma intercepted a poor pass by knocking the ball past the last home defender on the halfway line. He raced into space before looking up and threading a perfect pass between two recovering defenders to Jack Rudoni, but the blonde-haired midfielder fired his first-time shot wide of target with only the ‘keeper to beat.
The second half started with Blackburn shooting off target from a couple of long-range efforts, and then Moore soon gave Bojan Radulovic his Championship debut as he replaced Koroma to partner Healey in attack.
Bojan had a big chance to score with 20 minutes left when he received a pass from Rudoni, entered the box and turned past the final defender onto his left foot, but Pears did well to narrow the angle and smother the eventual shot.
David Kasumu then missed a third clear-cut chance for the Terriers with 15 minutes left. Rudoni, Radulovic and Healey combined nicely in the Blackburn half before the latter sent Kasumu clear; he advanced to the edge of the box and with the final defender trying to get across, he dragged his shot wide from 18 yards out.
Helik then went close to a spectacular second with nine minutes left, volleying a cross field pass from Kasumu inches wide of the far post in audacious fashion from out wide.
Sadly, Town couldn’t muster another big chance and had to settle for the point at Ewood Park.
Town’s team (3-5-2)
Lee Nicholls; Brodie Spencer, Michał Helik, Tom Lees; Sorba Thomas, Alex Matos (David Kasumu, 67’), Jonathan Hogg (c), Jack Rudoni, Ben Jackson; Rhys Healey, Josh Koroma (Bojan Radulovic, 59’)
Unused substitutes
Giosue Bellagambi; Brahima Diarra, Tom Edwards, Ben Wiles, Kyle Hudlin, Loick Ayina, Tom Iorpenda
Town bookings
Jonathan Hogg (65’), Bojan Radulovic (90+1’)
Gate
14,529
Town fans
2,087
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