Huddersfield Town 1, Birmingham City 1
Fraizer Campbell hit his seventh goal of the season but the Terriers were quickly pegged back by a Marc Roberts equaliser for Birmingham City as the visitors capitalised on sloppy play in the second half to earn a point.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Terriers had looked to improve on a poor haul of just five points from 11 games in 2021 against fellow strugglers Birmingham City who had picked up 11 points in the same time scale and were within striking distance of Town.
But both sides had to settle for a point with the other sides in the relegation zone all with games in hand to play.
Richard Stearman kept his place in the side after replacing Richard Keogh last weekend during the 3-0 humbling at Preston North End – he was the one change from that Huddersfield Town side as new signing Yaya Sanogo was named on the bench again with the Terriers’ bench looking inexperienced again due to injuries.
Chances were few for both sides despite a high tempo start as Fraizer Campbell had an early shot blocked in the first few seconds.
But there was a serious sounding head injury to Richard Stearman who collided with Harlee Dean with a crack after 6 minutes, leaving him prone on the ground.
He required over three minutes of treatment on the pitch before he was allowed to return to the fray.
Town continued press forward and won a couple of set pieces through Duane Holmes’ industry which almost won him a chance on goal after one of Neil Etheridge’s clearance came back off the midfielder.
Town’s endeavour remained high as the chances dried up for both sides until Ivan Sanchez fired high and wide after running unchallenged into the area from wide on the right.
Pipa had a shot saved after cutting in from the left while Fraizer Campbell was fouled on the edge of the D by Kristian Pedersen after he was released by Isaac Mbenza with a lay off.
Mbenza snatched at the free kick and blazed it over as the game remained goalless at half time.
Town’s attempts to work their way around the Birmingham City press were breaking down all too often after the restart, leaving both sides struggling to test either keeper until Alen Halilovic saw his lob tipped over by Ryan Schofield after 56 minutes while Ivan Sunjic had tame effort well saved by the Town keeper.
Town were starved of their usual majority of possession thanks to general sloppiness on the ball which left manager Carlos Corberan a frustrated man on the sidelines.
Corberan made his first change earlier than usual – after 62 minutes – with Mbenza withdrawn for Aaron Rowe.
And Town quickly made the breakthrough a minute later when Campbell hammered home the rebound after Naby Sarr’s speculative long ball into the box was only half cleared by Dean.
It was a blow to the visitors but they quickly levelled matters in the 67th minute after a goalmouth scramble with Marc Roberts driving home the loose ball after Schofield had blocked an initial chance from a Birmingham corner.
Alex Vallejo was replaced by Scott High after 73 minutes in Town’s second change of the night.
While the visitors sent on Scott Hogan and Gary Gardner for Lukas Jutkiewicz and Halilovic while Yaya Sanogo was given his Town home debut with 6 minutes to go for Campbell.
Sanogo failed to connect with a cutback by Juninho Bacuna while Hogan had a shot blocked.
Yan Valery was an injury time sub for Birmingham City, replacing Ivan Sanchez as the visitors failed to capitalise on a long throw by Pedersen into the area.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Birmingham City 1
Huddersfield Town 1, Birmingham City 0: 63. Fraizer Campbell hammered in the rebound from 25 yards with a left footed drive inside the near post after Harlee Dean only half cleared Naby Sarr’s ball into the box.
Huddersfield Town 1, Birmingham City 1: 67. Marc Roberts drove home the equaliser from close range after Town failed to clear a corner.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Birmingham City 1
Huddersfield Town: Schofield, Edmonds-Green, Stearman, Sarr, Holmes, Bacuna, Vallejo (High 73), O’Brien (C), Pipa, Mbenza (Rowe 62), Campbell (Sanogo 84)
Huddersfield Town subs not used: Pereira, Keogh, Duhaney, Thomas, Crichlow, Phillips
Bookings: Stearman 26 (foul on Lukas Jutkiewcz); Holmes 76 (foul on Ivan Sunjic)
Goal: Campbell 63
Birmingham City: Etheridge, Colin, Dean (C), Roberts, Pederson, Sunjic, Sanchez (Valery 90+1), Halilovic (Gardner 84), Harper, Bela, Jutkiewicz (Hogan 84)
Birmingham City subs not used: Prieto, Friend, Clayton, Leko, Clarke-Salter, McGree
Bookings: Dean 6 (foul on Richard Stearman); Pedersen 39 (foul on Fraizer Campbell)
Goal: Roberts 67
Referee: Mathew Donohue