HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1, BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 (FA CUP 4th ROUND)
David Wagner’s side were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal and both teams will have to go again in the FA Cup at St Andrew’s after Huddersfield Town were held to a draw by Championship side Birmingham City who did enough to beat the Terriers but for a great late save by Joel Coleman.
Town’s opening goal by Steve Mounie was cancelled out in the second half by Lukas Jutkiewicz. Jutkiewicz had a goal ruled out for offside and had a late effort saved as the visitors finished strongly.
With Liverpool coming to the John Smith’s Stadium on Tuesday David Wagner made seven changes to the side that lost at Stoke City but several of the players seemed to forget their shooting boots.
Jonas Lossl, Matthias Zanka, Chris Schindler, Scott Malone, Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince, and Alex Pritchard (who was cup-tied) stepped down and Joel Coleman, Michael Hefele, Terence Kongolo, Chris Lowe, Danny Williams, Abdelhamid Sabiri, and Collin Quaner came into the side to face their much changed opponents Birmingham City who had themselves made several changes.
In a first quarter with plenty of application if not shots on goal – Lukas Jutkiewicz went closest for either side after poking wide – the Terriers took the lead after Florent Hadergjonaj exchanged passes with Collin Quaner and and crossed for Steve Mounie whose firm downward header nestled into the back of the net past David Stockdale in the 21st minute.
It was the French striker’s fifth Terriers goal and a just reward for Town’s early play.
Birmingham were rattled and Quaner forced a save out of Stockdale after Town won the ball in the Birmingham half before they could clear while Sabiri’s follow-up header was wayward as Town found themselves in the unusual situation of dominating possession but being unable to capitalise on it.
Town lost Danny Williams after he was injured in a challenge with Chiekh N’Doye, allowing Philip Billing to make his comeback following a three month injury layoff in the first half.
And Town could have made more of another headed chance by Mounie from Chris Lowe’s free kick soon afterwards, with Stockdale making a low save while Van La Parra blazed over Quaner’s cutback.
Birmingham City hit back in the second half and could have embarrassed Huddersfield Town
Town were caught napping early in the second half as Michael Hefele didn’t see Jutkiewicz coming up behind him – the Blues striker snatched the loose ball off him and drilled it into the bottom corner from the edge of the area past Joel Coleman to restore parity in the 54th minute.
It was only the second goal of the season for the former Town loan player but his fifth goal in four FA Cup starts.
Kongolo fired well wide and Mounie sent the ball over the bar from six yards out as Town tried to restore their lead but the Blues improved massively after the confidence of the equaliser.
Jota’s shot flew past the back post in the 65th minute as Birmingham began to find the gaps in the Town defence and Jutkiewicz thought he had scored in the 68th minute but his looping header past Coleman was ruled offside while Joe Lolley, on as a substitute, was denied by Stockdale when clean through courtesy of Philip Billing.
Sabiri had carved out several encouraging chances of his own but had a poor game in front of goal, failing to hit the target with two great chances in the second half.
Jutkiewicz should have hit the winner after turning Kongolo and having a free shot on goal nine minutes from time but Coleman rescued his team mates who didn’t repay the favour when Quaner found Lolley with a cut back in added time only for Lolley to waste yet another chance – ballooning the ball over from 12 yards out – to the audible disappointment of home fans.
A replay will be annoying for David Wagner but more worrying is the lack of intensity for Town who have won only once in the last eight games.
MATCH STATS
Huddersfield Town: Coleman, Hadergjonaj, Hefele, Kongolo, Lowe (Malone 82), Hogg, Williams (Billing 37), Quaner, Sabiri, Van La Parra (Lolley 57), Mounie
Huddersfield Town Subs: Lossl, Smith, Malone, Billing, Lolley, Depoitre, Schindler
Goal: Mounie 21
Birmingham City: Stockdale, Jenkinson, Dean (Grounds 46), Morrison, Roberts, Bramall, Lowe (Gardner 88), N’Doye, Jota, Adams (Boga 76), Jutkiewicz
Birmingham City Subs: Trueman, Seddon, Grouds, Dacres-Cogley, Lakin, Gardner, Boga
Bookings: Dean, Morrison
Goal: Jutkiewicz 54
Attendance: 12,861