Huddersfield 1-1 Blackburn: Match Report

15 August 2015 16:31

Delfouneso rescues point for Rovers

Striker Nathan Delfouneso scored with his first touch to rescue a point for Blackburn in a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield.

Ben Marshall crossed from the right on 60 minutes and Delfouneso volleyed in from close range after a knock-down by fellow substitute Fode Koita.

Only seconds earlier Rovers boss Gary Bowyer had brought the former Blackpool striker and Hope Akpan on in a double change in an attempt to equalise after Nahki Wells' early strike.

Delfouneso, released by the Tangerines this month, signed a one-year deal at Ewood Park and has now scored his first goal for the club.

At the start of the second half Rovers, seeking to avoid a third straight defeat, lost Jordan Rhodes to injury.

Dean Whitehead was booked for a bad lunge on the former Terriers goal-machine who then limped off and was replaced by Koita.

An injury could put in doubt any further transfer activity, with Middlesbrough still linked to a B#12m bid for Rhodes.

Both sides have made identical starts to the season having lost on the opening day and then knocked out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday by League Two opposition.

Huddersfield started brightly and took the lead when Wells lashed in a rebound on 10 minutes.

Sean Scannell crossed from the right and when Ishmael Miller's shot was parried Wells blasted the ball into the top left corner from close range.

A minute earlier Rovers keeper David Raya also parried a goal-bound Mark Hudson header from a Jason Davidson corner.

On 17 minutes Modou Barrow crossed from the right behind Rhodes but Craig Conway came in from deep to curl a low shot just wide.

Rhodes, up front on his own, had a rare sniff of goal on 36 minutes when a ball over the top left him in the clear.

Town keeper Joe Murphy raced out to smother the danger and then berated defenders Hudson and Joel Lynch for leaving him unmarked. Murphy replaced Alex Smithies in goal for the Terriers, who is reportedly a target for QPR.

Predator Rhodes had scored six goals in four games against his old club, including a hat-trick in a 4-2 win two years ago.

After Rhodes went off Bowyer took a gamble and it paid off, though on 68 minutes Raya produced an excellent double parry to keep the score level.

Jabob Butterfield drilled in low from 20 yards and Raya was then up smartly to deny Scannell.

Despite Raya's heroics the ball spun off the turf and appeared to be heading in until skipper Grant Hanley cleared on the goalline at full stretch.

A minute later a Davidson chip over the top put Wells in the clear but the striker miscued his volley wide.

Town kept pressing for a winner late on, but the closest they came was when Bunn jinked into the box in stoppage time and saw a cross-shot plucked out of the air by Raya.


Source: PA