Faltering Leeds held by Roberts
Huddersfield Town 2 Leeds United
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Your support makes all the difference.The Huddersfield manager Lee Clark would not have known whether to laugh or cry following yesterday's thrilling West Yorkshire derby. His side bossed the game but had to dig deep to finish level against their out-of-form rivals Leeds.
Town have had the wood on the Elland Road side in recent seasons, undefeated in their last 11 home matches against them, but that record was in danger until the closing stages.
Leeds had not looked like getting back into the match after falling behind on 13 minutes to Anthony Pilkington's deflected strike, which hit Shane Lowry on the way. But after the interval Johnny Howson and Luciano Becchio both headed home in the space of five minutes to give Leeds an unexpected 66th minute lead.
The hosts, who would have been two up just before the break had Jordan Rhodes not fired over from close range, then had two great chances to level through Neal Trotman and Lee Novak. Trotman headed against the post, while Casper Ankergren instinctively saved a Novak shot from inside the six-yard box.
But Town were rewarded for their persistence when the winger Gary Roberts neatly volleyed home the equaliser five minutes from time following a deep right-wing cross from the impressive Pilkington.
Clark said: "The least we deserved was the result we got, but if Jordan had put that chance away just before half-time it could have been different. I'm not sure if Leeds would have come back from two down."
Robert Snodgrass had a hand in both Leeds goals with telling right-wing crosses, the second being a corner.
Leeds have now won only once in their last six games, hardly the form of promotion favourites, and have failed to beat Huddersfield in their last five attempts at either venue. But the manager, Simon Grayson, remains upbeat and said: "Disappointed as we are not to have won, I'd have certainly taken a point before it. It's another point to our campaign and another game gone by for the teams trying to catch us. We've got to stay focused."
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