Huddersfield Town 1, Coventry City 1
Huddersfield Town are safe from relegation after events elsewhere rendered the draw at the John Smith’s Stadium moot.
Jordan Shipley’s goal was cancelled out by Danny Ward, who scored his first goal of his second spell with the club but the result was academic as Rotherham could only draw against Blackburn Rovers meaning that the Terriers were safe from relegation.
Town dominated this game early on but failed to capitalise on clear chances for Josh Koroma and Richard Keogh and were in debt to Ryan Schofield for two magnificent saves from Viktor Gyokeres early in the second half which kept the game scoreless.
The Swede also had a claim for handball off Keogh who seemed to block he shot turned down at the end of the first half.
By the time the two goals were scored in the second half the drama was receding as Rotherham only partially recovered from going behind at home to Blackburn Rovers but while Rotherham managed an equaliser by the end it proved enough to guarantee Town Championship football next season.
Safety was always the minimum requirement for this season but Town will not like the fact that they have recorded only one home win in 2021 as they slid down the Championship table, relying on other results to go their way before confirming Championship status for next season with just one game to spare.
There were three changes to the Town side beaten at Blackburn last weekend.
Aaron Rowe, Duane Holmes, Yaya Sanogo started while Pipa, Carel Eiting, and Danny Ward dropped to the bench.
Town dominated the first half but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Sanogo blazed high and wide after Holmes had put him through in the 7thminute.
Koroma cut inside off the left flank and forced a save out of Ben Wilson with Sanogo winning a corner off the rebound.
Lewis O’Brien had created that chance for Koroma and almost had one himself after exchanging passes with Holmes but was penalised for a foul.
The visitors had a shot by Callum O’Hare saved, and could have done better with an earlier set piece which was headed well wide.
Holmes took corner after 26 minutes and Richard Keogh contrived an air kick with the goal gaping in front of him as the Terriers were all over the Sky Blues.
O’Brien also forced a save out of Wilson after his low shot went through Kyle McFadzean’s legs.
Fankaty Dabo blazed over from long range while Viktor Gyokeres had a handball claim against Keogh turned down as he shot for goal with Coventry shortly before the break.
Coventry City come back strong in the second half but Huddersfield Town secure draw with late equaliser by Danny Ward
Tyler Walker was replaced by Jordan Shipley at half time as Coventry looked to regroup.
And just after the restart Gyokeres saw his low shot tipped onto the post by Ryan Schofield.
Schofield denied the Swede with another great saved 4 minutes later after he had battled his way through to another fine shooting position.
Town did a double substitution with Rowe replaced by Pipa while Holmes was replaced by Rolando Aarons after 57 minutes.
Fankaty Dabo was taken off for Coventry City after injury a minute later, with Jack Burroughs taking his place.
After 69 minutes, Hamer slid in Shipley whose shot took a wicked deflection to finally beat Schofield.
That was the last action for Hamer as he was replaced by Josh Eccles while Michael Rose was replaced by Josh Pask.
Town responded immediately and did their own double change with Sanogo and Juninho Bacuna coming off to be replaced by Danny Ward and Carel Eiting.
City also blazed a free kick over after Naby Sarr had fouled Gyokeres.
The Terriers had been second best in the second period but did enough to equalise.
Town were level with 11 minutes to go after Wilson tipped away a Town corner but Burroughs’ poor clearance fell to Ward who drilled the ball home through the crowded box for his first goal for the club in his second spell at the club.
Rarmani Edmonds-Green came on for Richard Keogh with 7 minutes to go as their final change as the Terriers saw out the draw.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Coventry City 1
Huddersfield Town 0, Coventry City 1: 69. Jordan Shipley’s deflected shot beat Ryan Schofield after coming off Naby Sarr after Gustavo Hamer had slid the substitute through.
Huddersfield Town 1, Coventry City 1: 79. Danny Ward drilled home the loose ball after Ben Wilson and Jack Burroughs failed to clear a Town corner.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Coventry City 1
Huddersfield Town: Schofield, Rowe (Pipa 57), Keogh (Edmonds-Green 83), Sarr, Toffolo, Bacuna (Eiting 71), Hogg (C), O’Brien, Holmes (Aarons 57), Sanogo (Ward 71), Koroma
Huddersfield Town subs not used: Pereira, Stearman, Thomas, High
Bookings: Keogh 15 (foul on Gustavo Hamer) Sarr 73 (foul on Viktor Gyokeres)
Goal: Ward 79
Coventry City: Wilson, Rose (Pask 70), McFadzean (C), Hyam, Dabo (Burroughs 59), Hamer (Eccles 70), James, McCallum, O’Hare, Gyokeres, Walker (Shipley 46)
Coventry City subs not used: Marosi, Allen, Biamou, Bakayoko, Tavares
Booking: McFadzean 51 (foul on Duane Holmes)
Goal: Shipley 69
Referee: Keith Stroud