Michal Helik helps Huddersfield to point at Blackburn

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2024 by PA

Michal Helik’s eighth goal of the season gave relegation-threatened Huddersfield a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

It was the least that Darren Moore’s side deserved after creating the better chances in this encounter between two of the Sky Bet Championship’s most out-of-form sides.

The Terriers gifted Blackburn the opener after Adam Wharton profited from a poor pass, but Helik’s towering header midway through the first half restored parity.

Huddersfield, who are now just three points clear of the drop zone, were guilty of missing opportunities to snatch victory through Jack Rudoni and David Kasumu.

Aynsley Pears returned in goal for Rovers, who have won just once in 10 league games, after a three-month layoff while Rhys Healey made his Huddersfield debut.

Blackburn took a seventh-minute lead when Wharton intercepted a terrible Jonathan Hogg pass to go clean through on goal and he confidently stroked into the right corner for his second goal this season.

Dominic Hyam directed a free header straight at Lee Nicholls soon after but the Terriers grew into the game and Healey forced a sharp low save from Pears in the 22nd minute.

But, from the resulting corner, the Terriers equalised through Helik who got up highest at the near post before glancing Sorba Thomas’ corner into the far corner from six yards.

Blackburn thought they should have had a penalty in the 37th minute when Sam Gallagher seemed to have his heels clipped by Brodie Spencer when chasing a Sammie Szmodics through ball but the referee waved away the protests.

It should have got worse for the hosts moments later when Josh Koroma seized on a poor pass to race clean through before squaring for Rudoni but he somehow slotted wide with the goal at his mercy.

Blackburn came out with renewed purpose but it was Huddersfield who created the better opportunities after soaking up the pressure and substitute Bojan Radulovic went close after cutting inside from the right but Pears smothered his shot.

They went even closer in the 76th minute, hitting Blackburn on the counter to release Kasumu clean through but the substitute dragged his shot wide of the left post with just Pears to beat.

Helik almost scored a spectacular second moments later when he met Kasumu’s cross on the volley from a tight angle but directed agonisingly wide.

Blackburn substitute Joe Rankin-Costello volleyed over in injury time but a point is the most they deserved after a lacklustre display.