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West Brom v Huddersfield – Hosts fight back from two goals down to snatch a point

A resilient West Bromwich Albion side fought back from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw with high flying Huddersfield Town.

An error from Albion keeper Sam Johnstone gifted Terriers top scorer Danny Ward his 12th goal of the season, before he grabbed his second on 70 minutes with a classic poachers finish.

The Baggies weren’t to go down without a fight however and two goals in two minutes from Karlen Grant and Andy Carroll brought them back into the game.

It would be the hosts who started the brightest, when after just three minutes a thunderous Alex Mowatt volley was pushed wide by Town stopper Lee Nicholls.

Huddersfield continued to make things easy for Albion with consistently poor passing in front of their own box. One of the passes allowed West Brom to loop a hopeful ball into the area, and despite Nicholls making a complete mess of his punched clearance, Matty Pearson was able to shield the ball well enough for his keeper to recover.

Although there were limited chances in the first 20 minutes, Huddersfield posed a considerable threat from set pieces, Sorba Thomas delivering teasing crosses time and time again from corners and free kicks; just as he has done for the majority of the season.

Then came a moment to forget for Baggies keeper Johnstone. The former Manchester United man took too long in possession, allowing Huddersfield centre forward Ward to close him down. His long clearance was blocked by the Town striker and looped straight into the goal.

Albion looked to snatch an equaliser before half time and set pieces seemed to be their main threat, an acrobatic effort from Kyle Bartley of all people flying over. The big centre half then headed wide from another corner just a few minutes later, leaving the Terriers with a 1-0 lead at the break.

Whatever Baggies boss Steve Bruce said during the interval clearly galvanised the hosts, within a minute they pushed forward and a fierce drive from young midfielder Tyler Gardner-Hickman flew just past the post.

As shown many a time this season however, Huddersfield aren’t a side to sit back on a lead. Defender Tom Lees powered a downward header towards goal that was well dealt with by Johnstone, parrying the ball well out of danger. Nice passing then released Thomas down the right and his cutback was lashed over by Ward.

Lewis O’Brien would be the next Huddersfield player to test Johnstone, his shot from a tight angle was pushed out for a corner which would end up in the hands of the Albion shot stopper following a diving header.

West Brom looked to force a way back into the game, bringing on former Premier League striker Andy Carroll. It would be the big man who had an impact on the game, but not in the way manager Steve Bruce would have hoped. After he lost the ball visitors broke quickly, a low shot from O’Brien was pushed into the path of Ward who grabbed his and Huddersfield’s second of the game.

The hosts were given a lifeline on 84 minutes when Huddersfield winger Thomas was adjudged to have raised his boot to the head of Mowatt, although it looked contentious, former Town striker Karlen Grant stepped up and placed the ball into the bottom left corner for 2-1.

This goal gave West Brom the confidence they needed and just a minute later they were level, Carroll was picked out in the middle and his accurate header found the bottom corner. What a turn around for a side that looked dead and buried just a few minutes before.

The Baggies had the momentum and looked to press for a winner. A scramble in the box was blocked by Pearson and then just moments later the Huddersfield man was forced to desperately clear another WBA cross. With just one minute left Grant found space and fired a shot off the crossbar, so close to a complete comeback for the home side.

Carroll again found himself at the centre of the action on 92 minutes, his headed clearance of the line rescued his side a point and saw them move to 12th in the table.

Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield side continue their 17 game unbeaten run and climb to 2nd in the league following the result, however Huddersfield are likely to be left wondering how they didn’t win this game.

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