Goals from Ryan Mendes and Emyr Huws ensured that Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest shared the spoils in their Championship clash this evening.
Dougie Freedman's side knew that a win would send his side into the playoff places, but Huddersfield Town were the better side for much of the first half. Mendes opened the scoring with the visitors' first attempt on goal after 23 minutes.
The hosts put considerable pressure on their opponents in the second half, but were unable to find an equaliser until the 84th minute, when Huws fired a shot from distance into the Forest goal.
Find out how all the action unfolded with Sports Mole's full text commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's full text commentary of Huddersfield Town vs. Nottingham Forest in the Championship. It's 13th vs. 12th, and there's a place in the playoff places at stake for the visitors tonight.
Forest face a Huddersfield side full of confidence this evening after their resounding 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers at the weekend. Emyr Huws - on loan from Wigan Athletic - will have pleased fans of his parent club somewhat after netting two against their fierce rivals on Saturday. Mustapha Carayol and Joel Lynch scored the other goals. Can Chris Powell's men keep their form up tonight?
As for Forest, they arrive in Yorkshire on the back of a 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough at the weekend. Matt Mills scored Forest's only goal of the game on Saturday, but the centre-back is missing tonight through injury. Can Forest bounce back this evening?
With 20 minutes to go until kick off, let's take a look at how the two sides will line up this evening...
HUDDERSFIELD STARTING XI: Steer; Cranie, Ward, Lynch, Davidson; Scannell, Whitehead, Huws, Carayol; Bunn, Miller
SUBS: Smith, Hogg, Lolley, Wells, Dempsey, Allinson, Bojaj
SUBS: Smith, Hogg, Lolley, Wells, Dempsey, Allinson, Bojaj
NOTTINGHAM FOREST STARTING XI: De Vries; Lichaj, Wilson, Hobbs, Pinillos; Mancienne; Ward, Lansbury, Vaughan, Mendes de Graca; O'Grady
SUBS: Ebecilio, Oliveira, Williams, Blackstock, Evtimov, Burke, Walker
SUBS: Ebecilio, Oliveira, Williams, Blackstock, Evtimov, Burke, Walker
Ahead of tonight's fixture, Huddersfield Town manager told The Huddersfield Daily Examiner of his wish for Town's recent good run to continue against Forest.
"Back-to-back wins at any level, and especially in the Championship, are huge and now I'm demanding more," Powell said.
Meanwhile, Forest striker Dexter Blackstock - who starts on the bench tonight - admitted he was relishing the chance to face his former employers.
"There is some added spice to knowing your opponent, it can add something to it. I am sure it will be a good game. We will go there with confidence," Blackstock told the Nottingham Post.
How about some stats to whet the appetite? The two sides go into tonight's fixture side-by-side in the form guide, with eight points each from their last six matches. Neither side has been full of goals so far this season - Town lead that tally 9-8 - but the man who is most likely to score could be Huws. The midfielder is Huddersfield's top scorer with three goals.
On the bench for Huddersfield Town tonight is young Albanian striker Flo Bojaj. The academy player has netted four goals in four appearances for the Under-21s this season, and could be one to watch should he get a chance to impress this evening.
The players are making their way onto the pitch, kickoff is just minutes away.
Confirmation on the teams - Huddersfield will start 4-4-2, with Harry Bunn playing just behind Ishmael Miller - while Forest line up 4-3-3. Ward, O'Grady and Mendes are the attackers for the visitors, with Michael Mancienne at the heart of midfield.
Nottingham Forest will start proceedings tonight...
KICK OFF! Henri Lansbury gets proceedings under way. The visitors go long for Chris O'Grady, but the striker's flick-on falls to Jed Steer.
Some good play from Carayol, who looks to set Harry Bunn off down the left wing, but his pass is too heavy and De Vries can deal with it.
Dean Whitehead finds Mustapha Carayol on the left, and the loanee drives down the flank before swinging an inviting cross into the box, which is diverted away for a corner.
Nothing of note comes of the set piece, but Chris Powell will be very encouraged by the start his side have made this evening.
Carayol looking bright again, wins a throw in on the left as Town put the pressure on their visitors. The winger tries to get the better of Eric Lichaj with some neat footwork, and the full-back is forced to concede another corner.
CHANCE! Elliot Ward was unmarked at the back post, as Carayol finds the on-loan defender from the corner, but the header goes wide. Big chance for the Terriers goes begging.
Free kick for the host is taken quickly, and Carayol runs past his man on the left before putting a low cross into the area, which Forest scramble away. Carayol playing very well so far tonight, and Forest are struggling to get a hold of the ball.
Again the speedy winger Carayol is involved, whipping a cross in from the left, but Dorien De Vries deals with it comfortably.
Forest are just starting to get some possession now, but Sean Scannell recovers the ball and sets Carayol off down the left. Lichaj races back to deal with the danger.
O'Grady shows some skill and strength as he holds up the ball in Huddersfield's half, but the big man loses it and Carayol is set off down the left.
YELLOW! Eric Lichaj is booked for a cynical challenge on Carayol.
Forest are still struggling to string together a series of passes. Huddersfield are pressing their opponents well, and using the pace of Carayol to brilliant effect.
Davidson is brought down clumsily by Jamie Ward, and Carayol has a free kick in the Forest half.
The winger shows some neat footwork down the left, but his cross into the area misses everyone, and the visitors can recover.
O'Grady wins the ball from the goal kick and launches a neat passing move by Forest, before the big man tries to thread the ball through to Ward, but his pass is intercepted.
Some good pressure from the visitors for the first time. Pinillos attempts a cross, but his effort misses everyone.
The sting has been taken out of the game a little bit in the last few moments, Forest have started to see more of the ball and are keeping Carayol quiet.
Carayol attempts a strike from outside the penalty area, but his effort is blocked. Forest try to launch a counter attack, but the long ball towards O'Grady is cut out.
Harry Bunn has a shot at goal from 20 yards, but the effort is comfortable for De Vries in the Forest goal.
GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Ryan Mendes de Graca)
Swift counter attack by Forest, as Pinillos crosses from the left. His delivery finds Eric Lichaj, who nods the ball into the box from the right-hand side. His flick-on finds Mendes, who fires into the net for the opener. Perhaps it was against the run of play, but there is no doubt that Forest have improved in the last five minutes.
Lansbury finds O'Grady with a good pass, who sets up Ward on the right. The Northern Irishman cannot get the better of Davidson though, and Huddersfield win the ball back.
Whitehead threads a terrific pass through to Scannell, who jinks into the box past Pinillos before winning a corner.
Harry Bunn goes short with the set piece, but it's fairly easy for Forest to deal with.
Ryan Mendes is down from a challenge by Cranie, with the goalscorer currently receiving treatment. Dougie Freedman will be relieved to be ahead tonight after his side's sluggish start - Chris Powell must be struggling to believe his side are behind.
Ishmael Miller believes he should have a free kick after being held back by Jack Hobbs, but the referee ignores his calls for the set piece. The match has gone a little scrappy in the last few minutes.
Henri Lansbury launches the ball in front of Jamie Ward, but the winger cannot quite reach the pass and Jed Steer deals with the danger. Good idea, bad execution.
Bunn tees up Davidson, who crosses into the Forest box, but Wilson heads away.
Dean Whitehead deemed to have fouled Jamie Ward in the Town half - and it was a foul, a blatant trip by the veteran midfielder who is lucky to escape without a card. Free kick to come...
The delivery is poor from Henri Lansbury and Jed Steer collects with ease.
Huddersfield fans fiercely booing Jamie Ward at the moment - a tad harsh, but probably reflecting their frustration more than anything. The Northern Irishman has grown into the game.
Neat play between Bunn and Cranie sets up an attacking move, but Carayol loses the ball and Forest clear. Huddersfield win the ball back, and Carayol shoots from distance, but his effort is tame - it never looked like a threat.
Forest struggling to keep the ball as the half goes on.
Joel Lynch clears up the pitch and his ball finds Ishmael Miller, but the striker is unable to control the ball. Forest break, and Jamie Ward tests Jed Steer from distance.
Two minutes added on...
Huddersfield with some possession late in the half, but they are unable to really do anything with it. Bunn attempts a cross towards Miller, but Hobbs clears with a header.
Carayol whips a ball in, but that too is cleared by Forest.
HALF TIME! Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Fair to say, the first half was not particularly full of quality, but Forest have a crucial lead at the break thanks to Ryan Mendes.
Read about how the first half played out with Sports Mole's half time report here.
Which you can find here.
Apologies about the technical error there. Let's get back to the football - Mustapha Carayol was electric in the opening 20 minutes tonight, but began to fade as the half went on. Once Forest scored - with their first of two attempts on goal - Huddersfield looked rocked.
Town are ahead 4-2 on shots, but down 1-2 for attempts on target. The visitors picked up the first booking of the night - Eric Lichaj - before Martin Cranie received a yellow card for the hosts.
As it stands, Forest will go fifth, but their performance has been far from vintage. Chris Powell will want his side to rediscover their form from the last couple of games. Emyr Huws in particular has been very quiet tonight.
Dougie Freedman will be relatively happy with the way his side have defended tonight, but will want Forest to take control of the ball a bit more. Can they hold onto their lead in the second half? The action returns shortly.
Huddersfield to get the second half under way. Neither side has made a substitution yet.
KICK OFF! Town start on the front foot again, as Cranie fires a cross into the box. Harry Bunn hits a half-volley and Wilson gets a touch away to concede a corner.
The corner is defended, but Town continue to put pressure on Forest through Scannell and Cranie down the right.
Pinillos crosses from deep towards Chris O'Grady, but Jed Steer collects with ease.
Huddersfield build from the back, but Carayol loses out in a challenge and Forest keep possession. Quiet start to the second half.
Wilson pressed by Bunn to make a clearance, but the ex-Celtic man deals with the pressure well. Neither side is doing much in attack at the moment.
Carayol has a run before finding Bunn, who pulls the trigger but hits a Forest man. On the break, Jamie Ward is clear in the box but Joel Lynch sprints back to recover and concede a corner.
Forest's first corner of the night is a poor one.
Huddersfield are battling for possession, but doing little once they have it. Sean Scannell closes Pinillos down and wins the ball high up the pitch, but Carayol loses out to Wilson.
Miller tries a cross towards Bunn, but Forest clear their lines. Davidson then attempts a cross towards Scannell, but the winger's header - under pressure from the Forest defence - misses the target.
Mendes threads a pass through to Jamie Ward on the left, but the winger had strayed offside.
Henri Lansbury with a quarterback pass for Eric Lichaj, and the full-back wins a throw in at the corner.
Nothing comes of the opportunity though. The game is pretty scrappy now as it heads towards the hour mark.
Scannell tees up Carayol for a right-wing cross, but his delivery is just too high for Ishmael Miller and Forest can clear.
Great footwork from Bunn, who cuts inside from the right before winning a corner. Huws takes it, but Forest clear the danger.
Some pressure from Forest as Ward tries a left-wing cross, but it's blocked, and on the counter Carayol attempts a shot. His effort is deflected for a corner.
The corner is cleared, before Martin Cranie attempts a cross from deep with the follow-up, but the delivery goes beyond every blue-and-white shirt.
SUBSTITUTION! Nahki Wells is coming on for Huddersfield Town, replacing Mustapha Carayol.
Joel Lynch finds Ishmael Miller with a long ball, and the big man does well to hold the ball up and win a corner.
CHANCE! Harry Bunn with a terrific set piece, the delivery finds Joel Lynch at the front post, but his header goes over the bar. Another big chance from a corner for Huddersfield!
And on the break, Chris O'Grady tests Jed Steer with a shot from a tight angle on the left.
Huws finds Bunn, who plays a one-two with Wells, before Jamie Ward slides in to concede another corner.
Bunn takes the set piece, but De Vries punches clear, catching Joel Lynch in the process. The defender is okay to continue.
Michael Mancienne scuffs a clearance and Huddersfield win the ball back. Town keep the ball well in the Forest half, but Elliot Ward fires the ball towards Nahki Wells, who can't keep the header down.
Scannell with some good footwork on the right. He finds Emyr Huws, who sprays a pass into the box, but Forest are again able to clear.
SUBSTITUTION! Chris Burke takes the place of Jamie Ward for Nottingham Forest, who is booed off for one last time by the Huddersfield Town fans.
Miller wins another corner for Huddersfield from the left wing.
CHANCE! Another good delivery from Harry Bunn, but Nahki Wells is unable to control the ball and get a shot away.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Forest! Chris Burke holds his run on the break and hits the post from a one-on-one opportunity, before the rebound attempt is cleared off the line! Forest have a corner, but Town clear.
Nahki Wells finds Miller on the break, but his ball into the box is very poor.
Crainey was the man who cleared O'Grady's shot earlier - match-saving stuff!
SUBSTITUTION! Joe Lolley replaces Sean Scannell for the hosts, and is already looking bright.
Yet another Town corner as Davidson's cross is deflected away. This time the delivery is headed away by Jack Hobbs.
All Huddersfield at the moment as they have a free kick from a Burke foul. Emyr Huws sends the ball into the box, but Harry Bunn is flagged offside and the chance disappears.
SUBSTITUTION! Goal scorer Ryan Mendes is replaced by youngster Tyler Walker. Will his goal win the match for Forest tonight?
Lolley goes on a dazzling run from the right, cutting inside before getting a shot away, but his effort is blocked.
GOAL! Huddersfield Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Emyr Huws)
What a strike from Huws! The former Manchester City man hits it from 25 yards, and the ball rattles the underside of the crossbar before heading over the line. Game on, and the goal was coming.
Free kick for Forest from just outside the penalty area...
What a howler! Henri Lansbury blasts the ball beyond the top-right corner. It would not have looked out of place at Twickenham.
Huddersfield are very good value for their equaliser, after their promising opening period and pressure in the second half. Is there a winner on the way?
Free kick to Forest after a rash challenge by Bunn. Good opportunity here.
Forest are unable to take advantage though, and Huddersfield clear their lines.
Town on the attack. Davidson crosses in, but Wilson clears and Forest break with Pinillos. The full-back cuts the ball into the box, but Forest can't find a shot.
FULL TIME! Huddersfield Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Game over, and a point shared. Huddersfield edged the possession and chances, but were unable to find the net for large parts of the match.
Nottingham Forest leapfrog Leeds United and Derby County in the league (a statement that sounds like it's come from the 1970s) with that point, moving up to 10th. Huddersfield Town remain in 13th place.
Read about how all the action unfolded tonight with Sports Mole's match report here.
That wraps up tonight's coverage from the Championship, thanks for your company! Keep with Sports Mole for all the latest action.
Written by
Stephen Topping
Stephen Topping
