Bournemouth 1 Huddersfield Town 1: Smithies spares Terriers

Robins’s successor, Chris Powell, said: “It was a difficult proposition coming up against a team flying high, but there was a lot of character displayed.

“We needed that concentration and discipline and in the end we got our just rewards.

“Smithies was very good, he is a good young goalkeeper. He was very positive coming off his line, but he also made three or four great saves.

“My players put their bodies on the line at times and the defended executed the game plan. The whole team did.”

Yann Kermorgant’s 11th goal of the season from the edge of the area in the 16th minute looked set to help the Cherries reclaim top spot from Middlesborough on goal difference, but James Vaughan’s second-half equaliser denied them victory.

Bournemouth could have been 3-0 up before they scored. Defender Steve Cook and Kermorgant both headed over before Smithies saved acrobatically from Matt Ritchie.

Huddersfield hit back in the 65th minute. Jack Robinson’s scuffed shot from the edge of the area was going wide until Vaughan diverted it past Artur Boruc.

Smithies produced great saves to keep out Kermorgant and Arter late on and Cook also saw a header cleared off the line by Vaughan in the final moments.

Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman; Arter, Pugh (Fraser 74), Kermorgant (Pitman 75), Wilson. Unused substitutes: Camp, MacDonald, Stanislas, Ward, Francis.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Smith, Hudson, Wallace, Robinson, Edgar; Scannell, Butterfield (Hogg 88), Coady, Bunn; Vaughan (Miller 84). Unused substitutes: Murphy, Lolley, Wells, Gobern, Wright.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Man of the match: Alex Smithies.