Report: Rovers 1-1 Huddersfield Town

Adam Wharton’s early strike wasn’t enough as Rovers were forced to settle for a share of the spoils following a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.

In a contest that lacked quality from both teams, Wharton took advantage of a mistake from the experienced Jonathan Hogg to slam his hometown club in front inside the opening eight minutes.

However, Rovers were undone in a familiar fashion as Sorba Thomas’ corner kick was met by Michal Helik, whose glancing header made it eight for the season for the Polish international.

Town had the better opportunities to win the encounter, with Jack Rudoni hitting wide before half time and good second-half opportunities falling to substitutes Bojan Radulovic - who saw Aynsley Pears in the way - and David Kasumu, who dragged wide of the target.

The boss made five changes for the clash, with starting berths handed to Pears, Harry Pickering, Sam Szmodics, Sam Gallagher and Ben Chrisene, who made his debut for the club.

It took just eight minutes for Rovers to take the lead and it was Wharton who bagged his second goal of the season with a composed finish from inside the box.

The young midfielder took advantage of a stray pass from visiting skipper Hogg, went eye-to-eye with Lee Nicholls and beat the goalkeeper with a sweeping strike that went across goal and flew into the corner.

Rovers went looking for more and Gallagher’s shot took a deflection before flying wide and then Dom Hyam’s header had to be held by Nicholls.

An early blow came a moment later, though, with Hayden Carter’s afternoon ending prematurely after an awkward fall, with Scott Wharton on in his place.

At the other end, Town’s equaliser came from a set piece at the mid-point of the half as ex-Rover Sorba Thomas delivered an inswinging corner that was glanced home by Helik, who rose above his man to get Darren Moore’s men level.

Huddersfield should have gone in front with half time looming, but Jack Rudoni could only skew wide after Sondre Tronstad’s pass was cut out by Josh Koroma, who raced clear of Scott Wharton and played the ball across to Rudoni, who fired wide of Pears’ right-hand post in what turned out to be the final opportunity of what was a frustrating half of football for Rovers.

Both sides struggled to get any momentum going at the beginning of the second period, but another enforced alteration was needed on the hour when Pickering went down clutching his hamstring, with Joe Rankin-Costello on in place of the left back.

One of Town’s substitutes had a chance to put the visitors in front with just over 20 minutes remaining, but Pears spread himself well to deny Radulovic, who went for goal after working a yard away from Scott Wharton.

After Rankin-Costello tested Nicholls’ handling, Kasumu had a great opportunity to put the Terriers in front inside the opening 15 minutes when he was fed by debutant Rhys Healey, but dragged wide when clean through, although Dom Hyam’s excellent covering did look to have put off the substitute.

Rovers were hopeful of a clear chance at the other end, but Callum Brittain let fly from the edge of the box, but his strike was always rising over Nicholls’ crossbar with only two minutes of the contest remaining.

Two more chances came in quick succession when Brittain’s cross was parried away by Nicholls but bounced off Szmodics and wide, before Rankin-Costello got underneath an attempted volley and it looped over as the opportunity for three points passed both teams by.

Attentions turn to the Emirates FA Cup next up, with Wrexham the visitors to Ewood Park in round four of the competition on Monday 29th January, kick-off 7.30pm.

Attendance: 14,529 (2,087 away).