Huddersfield 0 Cardiff 0: Powell happy to take point

THIS mid-table encounter petered out into a goalless draw so at least brought some satisfaction for former Town captain Lee Peltier and Cardiff leader Mark Hudson, who are now in the opposite camps.
James Vaughan, of Huddersfield, shoots against Cardiff City.James Vaughan, of Huddersfield, shoots against Cardiff City.
James Vaughan, of Huddersfield, shoots against Cardiff City.

Huddersfield made two changes from the side which drew at title-chasing Bournemouth, matching unchanged Cardiff’s 4-4-2 formation.

Jonathan Hogg replaced David Edgar in midfield and Nahki Wells was paired up front with James Vaughan at Harry Bunn’s expense.

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Cardiff included former January signing Peltier at right-back but he had to switch to the left when Scott Malone pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Matthew Connolly.

The first save of the game came when Alex Smithies pushed over a six-yard header from Eoin Doyle but former Cardiff defender Mark Hudson forced an even better save from David Marshall, who went full length to his left to keep out a back-header.

Tommy Smith took a booking for pulling back Kenwyne Jones on the edge of the area as the powerful striker raced through the middle in anticipation of a cross from Doyle in first-half stoppage time. Peter Whittingham’s free-kick ballooned off the wall for an unproductive corner and the half ended goalless.

Murray Wallace made a fine block from Whittingham straight after the break and Jacob Butterfield fizzed a shot over for Town, hinting at better things to come.

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However, defenders were in top form in their respective areas and despite both sides making all their substitutions there were few other opportunities created.

Huddersfield boss Chris Powell admitted the game was forgettable, though.

“We have been in a position where we have been drawing games and gone on to lose, so we have to take comfort in the fact we haven’t lost and we have kept a clean sheet.

“The game won’t live long in the memory of anybody who was here. Alex Smithies made a good save in the first half and David Marshall made a couple.”

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Powell agreed his side lacked a creative spark, adding: “We just didn’t create enough in the final third. Our final pass was not there and we were up against a side that defended stubbornly.

“It was one of those games where both teams take a point, dust themselves down and move on pretty quickly.”