WAR HEROES
Neil hails his fighting Terriers
NEIL WARNOCK praised Huddersfield’s fight- ing spirit – despite them blowing a 2-0 lead in their battle against the drop.
Ryan Hedges’ stoppage-time equaliser denied the Terriers a fourth straight win but Warnock was happy with the draw after his team spent most of this game in a dogged rearguard action.
Despite play-off hopefuls Blackburn enjoying 81 per cent possession, Town led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Matty Pearson – his fourth in three games – and Jack Rudoni.
Joe Rankin-Costello sparked Blackburn’s fightback in the 47th minute but they looked set to pay for squandering several chances until Hedges pounced.
Warnock said: “To take 11 points from the last five games – all against good sides – has been amazing. You might have thought we’d be lucky to get two or three.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t win because of the timing of their equaliser but I’d have settled for a point when they made it 2-1.
“We were under the cosh but defended really well, we put bodies on the line, got tackles and headers in. I was shattered on the touchline, so no wonder the lads are shattered.”
Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “We dominated the game from minute one to the end against a team that is fighting for their lives.
“They scored from their only two attempts in the first half and when you keep missing chances, you think it is going to be one of those days. The least we deserved was a draw.”
Defender Pearson headed the Terriers in front on 16 minutes after a corner and six minutes later Rudoni converted Joseph Hungbo’s cross from close range.
Rankin-Costello’s neat dink over Tomas Vaclik after a one-two with Tyrhys Dolan halved the gap two minutes after the restart.
Vaclik then made fine saves from substitute Harry Leonard and Rankin-Costello and Rovers had to wait until the 91st minute for their deserved equaliser when Hedges tapped in after Vaclik had parried Rankin-Costello’s header.