Town Team: Smithies, Dixon, Clarke, Lynch, Woods, Scannell, Southern, Norwood, Clayton, Hammill, Novak.
Town Bench: Bennett, Gerrard, Ward, Wallace, Arfield, Lee, Robinson.
The game was started well by the visitors who had ex-Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes in their starting lineup. It was that man who was immediately involved for Rovers as he headed a long ball down into the path of Rochina who forced Smithies into a save with a sizzling volley. Rochina soon had another shot on goal just five minutes later before Peter Clarke throw his body in the way to deflect the goal threat out for a corner. From the resulting corner the terriers could well of gone a goal down as Rochina's ball in was met with a well connected header by Dann but he missed the target completely. Warning signs were already flashing for Graysons men with just seven minutes on the clock.
Rovers had made a fast start to the game yet were caught out with a sublime cross by Huddersfield Town midfielder Oliver Norwood. The youngster has been impressing scouts all season and he grabbed another assist when a superb delivery into the box wasn't dealt with by the Blackburn defence and Novak took full advantage by prodding home from close range.
The visitors looked to get themselves back on level terms straight away but Smithies was on hand to palm away a low effort from Rochina in the seventeenth minute. The game then started to settle down but both teams kept the high tempo with which they had started the game with in what was starting to be a exciting game.
Keith Southern tried his luck with twenty-seven minutes on the clock but former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was up to the challenge and saved well low down. The ball was then back up into the terriers half but possession was soon wasted by Rovers as Olsson tried a spectacular effort which ended up with the ball going flying well over the bar.
Although Rovers were a goal down they were creating some good half chances especially through Rochina who tried his luck yet again from the edge of the area but failed to test Smithies. Blackburn Rovers then started to sit back a little and invited pressure onto themselves as the terriers pushed to double their lead.
However, with just three minutes until the break the second goal of the game was scored by that man Jordan Rhodes. A long ball over the top of the Huddersfield defence saw Rhodes break the offside trap. The Scotland international controlled the ball with a neat touch before finishing past Alex Smithies to bring Blackburn Rovers level. A small celebration from Rhodes followed.
Half Time: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
The second half began and just two minutes in Huddersfield could well of retaken their lead. Scannell held the ball well before a clever back heel released Paul Dixon who charge to the byline before driving a cross across the face of goal. Novak reached for the ball but it had just too much pace on it for the striker to tuck it away for his second in the game.
Town had started the second half the better team and Novak maybe should of punished Rovers after Norwood played the ball through for him but the striker couldn't get his shot away as Blackburn players scrambled back to clear the ball from danger. Three minutes later the game was turned on its head as the referee judged Lynch to have fouled Olsson in the box. It looked very much lie a poor dive but a penalty was given and Murphy made no mistake from the spot to give his team a rather debatable lead.
The terriers were now up against it as Grayson immediately introduced a double substitution by bringing on both Ward & Lee for Hammill & Norwood. Huddersfield started to press heavily as Ward got himself into the box before a last ditch challenge denied him a shooting opportunity.
Huddersfield continued to press and were looking promising but time was slowly starting to run out as the night grew darker at The John Smiths Stadium. In the 79th minute it looked as if Novak was through on goal as a neat knock on from Lee released the striker in behind the Rovers back line. However, Novak was judged to have strayed fractionally offside by the linesman who immediately raised his flag.
A free kick was then Towns next opportunity to grab an equaliser with ten minutes to play. Danny ward lined the set piece up but his fierce drive was off target. The clock was ticking rapidly now for the terriers and the home fans were urging their side forward. Novak crossed only for Sean Scannell to narrowly miss the goal with a diving header. Alan Lee then got up to head at goal just minutes later but Robinson managed to claw the ball out of the six yard box and another chance went begging for Huddersfield Town.
The game looked over for Huddersfield Town as the 94th minute appeared on the large screen but things were far from over. The terriers pressure finally paid off as Novak smashed home for his second of the game to send the home fans wild. Huddersfield deserved the draw after a poor display from the referee nearly gifted all three points to the visitors in a truly entertaining game.
Full Time: Huddersfield Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
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