Brandon Williams secures late point for Ipswich at Huddersfield

Posted Sunday, October 01, 2023 by PA

Ipswich moved to the summit of the Sky Bet Championship as Brandon Williams’ late leveller denied Darren Moore a first home win as Huddersfield boss.

The Terriers looked destined to hand their new manager a dream start to life at the John Smith’s Stadium thanks to Delano Burgzorg’s goal after 61 minutes.

However, substitute Williams notched an equaliser three minutes from time as the Tractor Boys leapfrogged Leicester into top spot.

The entertaining draw saw both sides extend their unbeaten runs to five league games.

The visitors – who beat Wolves 3-2 in midweek to reach the EFL Cup last 16 for the first time since 2010 – started the brighter.

Wes Burns’ floated delivery was met well by the rising George Hirst, but the forward could not direct his header either side of Lee Nicholls.

But Huddersfield – who won a late point against Coventry in Moore’s first game as boss – grew into the fixture and should have opened the scoring after 15 minutes.

Josh Koroma was sent through on goal and forced an impressive stop from Vaclav Hladky one-on-one, with the ball looping up and landing on the top of the crossbar.

Ipswich looked uncharacteristically rocked and were fortunate again to not fall behind a matter of moments later.

An inviting cross just eluded Burgzorg before Sorba Thomas’ cutback was fired goalwards by Koroma, who was again thwarted by a busy Hladky.

Tenacious Terriers’ captain Jonathan Hogg personified his team’s strong start with a fierce challenge that teed up Koroma for a strike that whistled narrowly wide.

Despite their early threat, Huddersfield were possibly lucky not to concede a penalty when Omari Hutchinson was felled, but referee Geoff Eltringham was unmoved.

After a brief period of Ipswich dominance, the hosts reassumed control as Moore’s outfit finished the half the stronger.

And their supremacy was not swayed by the interval as the Terriers finally secured the goal that their performance richly deserved.

A bright counter ended with Yuta Nakayama threading through to Burgzorg, who advanced with purpose before firing low past a helpless Hladky.

Ipswich, who were in pursuit of a fifth successive second-tier away victory for the first time since 2003, then burst into life as they sought an equaliser.

Substitute Jack Taylor looked to add to his midweek long-range stunner against Wolves, but his strong strike was parried well by Nicholls.

Kieran McKenna’s side were indebted to the impressive Hladky, who pulled off a miraculous save to deny Jack Rudoni and prevent Huddersfield from adding a crucial second.

And the stopper’s heroics proved key for the visitors as they landed a late sucker-punch.

Hutchinson’s deep delivery wreaked havoc and eventually Williams headed beyond Nicholls, extending Ipswich’s unbeaten away league run to 14 games.