The Rovers made the short trip, on a fine but cold afternoon, to Huddersfield for another Yorkshire 'Derby'. The Rovers showed one change from Tuesday, Steve Roberts replacing the injured captain, Adam Lockwood, with Brian Stock taking over the captain's armband. The home club dispensed with Andy Ritchie and John Dungworth's services as Manager and assistant during the last week so long serving Gerry Murphy was in charge as Caretaker-Manager. His first line-up showed two changes from last Saturday's team that suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Oldham. Andy Holdsworth and David Mirfin came in for Frank Sinclair and Luke Beckett, who both drop to the bench. The Rovers defended the end where their supporters were cheering them on.
The opening minutes were spent in sizing each other up, mainly in the home team's half. The first real incursion by the home team into the Rovers half resulted in a throw in from their right about 15 yards from the corner flag. A long throw into the middle was only partially cleared to the Town left where WILLIAMS rifled in a shot from the edge of the penalty area to put the home team in front after 6 minutes. The Rovers tried to get their game going but Huddersfield had their tails up and were equal to the task of keeping them out. A corner to the Rovers was cleared and Collins went down the home team's left before cutting in to hit a shot from 20 yards that Sullivan saved. Back came the Town through Worthington but he was just over the bar from 20 yards. On 28 minutes, a cross from the right byline by Green was met with a good header by Price, which was tipped away by the keeper towards the right hand post. As Heffernan closed for the kill Holdsworth arrived from nowhere to put out for a corner. Stock swung the corner into the middle, the keeper, Glennon, came out but missed it, Heffernan collected 15 yards out with his back to goal. His overhead kick cuased problems for the Huddersfield defence in the six yards box but they eventually cleared. The home team, despite the occasional showers, were running hot past the half hour. A cross from the left by Brandon was just too high for Booth, on his own in the middle. Two minutes later a shot from the edge of the area from Worthington hit a post came back into play and was collected by Collins 20 yards out. His low shot brought a save from Sullivan. Then, on 40 minutes, the Rovers made a double substitution and changing the strike force, McCammon and Taylor for Heffernan and Price. Minutes later, Taylor, to the right of goal and just inside the penalty area fired wide of the far post. Two minutes before break, Worthington went down the home right, put a good cross to the far post where Mills beat Booth to the header for a corner to the Town. The break came with Huddersfield leading by a single goal.
The Rovers came out in the second half showing an urgency to get to grips with the game. Two minutes in and Wellens put out to Coppinger on the right, to Green who put in to McCammon, who scuffed his shot wide. Two minutes later and Gareth Roberts from the Rovers left put over a cross to Green whose left footed half volley was just wide of a post. Then, on 52 minutes, a good move by the Rovers, with O'Connor feeding Green, some deft footwork taking him past Mirfin and away to the byline before pulling the ball back for TAYLOR to slam into the net for an equalising goal to the Rovers and Taylor's first goal for the club. Two minutes later, a cross from the home right was chested down by Brandon for Booth but Sullivan beat him to the ball. Then, on 59 minutes, with the Rovers showing every sign of running the game, they hit the buffers with a double blow. Brandon, for the home team burst through the Rovers back line and was brought down by Mills just outside the penalty area. Mills was sent off and HOLDSWORTH hit a low free kick through the wall into the bottom corner of the net. Despite this, the Rovers went on the attack and Green fired wide from 25 yards. But the home team were soon making their numerical advantage count. A cross by Williams from the home left brought a header on goal from Booth but Sullivan saved. Collins then fired over from 25 yards. As the last ten minutes came up, Elliott collected the ball on the Rovers left, cut inside to the edge of the area and hit a low left foot shot for the far corner of the goal. Glennon went down for it but spilled it. McCammon tried to shoot on the turn but only succeeded in giving it to a relieved Glennon. The Rovers had fought their way back into the game and on 84 minutes received their reward. Coppinger fed GREEN on the right, he went into the penalty area and from an angle drilled a great shot just inside the far post to put the Rovers back on level terms. A minute from time a somewhat deflated Town tried to hit back through Brandon on the right, who turned inside and hit a left foot drive over the bar from 30 yards. Into added-on time and Skarz, on the left byline put a high cross to the far post where Brandon headed wide. The whistle went after four minutes of added-on time leaving the scoreline at 2 goals each. A good fight back by the Rovers secured them a point when everything seemed to be against them.
Teams - Huddersfield Town - Matt Glennon; Andy Holdsworth, David Mirfin, Robert Page, Nathan Clarke, Robbie Williams; Michael Collins, Jon Worthington, James Berrett, Chris Brandon; Andy Booth
Subs used - Joe Skarz for Williams 69mins;
Subs not used - Frank Sinclair, Luke Beckett, Malvin Kamara, Alex Smithies
Cautions- Worthington, Page, Holdsworth, Berrett, Skarz,
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Steve Roberts, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Jason Price, Paul Heffernan
Subs used - Gareth Taylor for Price 40 mins; Mark McCammon for Heffernan 40mins; Stuart Elliott for Wellens 78mins;
Subs not used - James Hayter, Sean McDaid,
Sent Off - Mills 59 mins,
