Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning on bench impact, challenge to Marcus Harness and 'learning' after Blackpool draw

Trailing for the first time in the Manning era after the Seasiders cashed in on some poor home defending to lead 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Ashley Fletcher and debutant Karoy Anderson, Town dragged their way back into the game in eventful fashion in the final quarter.

Substitutes Mickel Miller, Lasse Sorensen and Cam Ashia produced strong cameos in particular.

Town were handed a lifeline on 75 minutes when Marcus Harness buried a fine header from Sorensen's pinpoint cross.

The hosts pressed for a leveller and it arrived on 88 minutes when Ashia headed in following Bali Mumba's centre from the left as Town followed up the pulsating late events Peterborough United seven days earlier to produce another memorable moment.

Professing to mixed feelings overall, Manning said: "Yes, I think so. I think if you analyse the game, I thought the first 15 we started okay. We had a couple of decent chances with Dion (Charles) obviously hitting the post and Bali on the back post, the one he misses.

"I thought after that we became a bit passive without the ball. We obviously changed it in the first half to go to a back four and I thought we did a better job stopping them playing, but then with the ball I just thought we were a bit passive and didn't ask enough questions with the ball for the last 25-30 minutes of the first half.

"And then the second half, I challenged the group to respond and stick together and show what we're about.

"So for me, it was really good learning. Obviously, we've started extremely well in the first three games. Today's a different challenge where you're two behind at half-time, but the character, the response, the togetherness, everything we showed second half will definitely stand us in good stead as a group.

"I think every goal you concede, you will always analyse it and go: 'right, what can we do better? Why did this happen?' And yes, there's definitely aspects to it which weren't good enough, so we'll review that, we'll look at it. That's how we work.

We have to be better at keeping clean sheets and not giving away goals. I'm still learning about the group, so to see how they respond to a bit of adversity after being behind, I thought that's probably the biggest takeaway for me."

On the contributions from the bench, he added: "It's the first time since I've been here we've been behind at half-time, so it was an opportunity (for the existing players).

"I wanted to find how the lads responded. I think you want to give them that opportunity to go and implement the change. Obviously, what we put to them at half-time to respond in the right way, to go and show more purpose, intensity, aggression, playing on the front foot more, attacking more.

"Then naturally, I think you like to think we're those things and then we make changes. We don't want to be passive and wait. Whether it be half-time in the future or like we did today, I think being aggressive with substitutions, especially when you're behind, is quite important.

"Today it worked. I think in terms of the lads coming on had the impact that we wanted and allowed us to get a point and remain unbeaten.”

On the goals from Harness and Ashia, he said: "I much prefer him (Harness) higher up. Obviously, he's had two goals I think he's got now since I've been here, so for me, his quality is top for the level. So there's no reason he shouldn't be pushing eight or 10 goals at this level for me.

"For Cam, I was delighted for him to get that. He's had to be patient. Obviously, Micks (Miller), I thought he had really good impact as well.

"Combining with Bali to get the cross in. Kas (David Kasumu), Lasse, Bobby (Wales), I think you know when you go through it. The four games we've had, I think the depth and the impact from the subs has been top."