Robbie Williams' first goal in Town colours earned the Terriers a point at Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon, but Andy Ritchie may be disappointed that his side did not take another of the chances that they created to seal a win. Jevons, Beckett and Williams all spurned chances in good positions for Town as the men in black battled hard against the physical home side.
Former Barnsley man Williams equalised an Elphick goal with a beautiful left-foot free-kick that left home shot-stopper Kuipers with no chance, but the game was marred by two red cards for Brandon and Gary Hart after the final whistle.
Town started the game in a 4-4-2 formation, with 'keeper Glennon behind a back four of Skarz, Mirfin, Nathan Clarke and Michael Collins, the latter filling in at right-back. Skipper Jon Worthington partnered Andy Holdsworth in the centre of midfield, flanked by Williams on the left and Brandon on the right. Recent signing Phil Jevons partnered Luke Beckett up front.
In their all black kit, Town made a bit of a slow start to the game and found themselves on the back foot in the opening minutes. Brighton looked lively on the left side, with Dean Cox and winger Dean Martot combining well.
An Andy Holdsworth foul on Dean Cox after eight minutes led to an almighty scramble in the six yard box, where it looked inevitable that centre-back Tommy Elphick would tap the ball in from close range. However, Nathan Clarke managed to block his effort before Matt Glennon calmly scooped the ball up into his arms.
Dave Mirfin then blocked a Cox shot just inside the Town box a minute later, the diminutive midfielder having been laid on by a good pass from Martot.
Robbie Williams was the first to try his luck for the Terriers, but his long-range drive after ten minutes was always going wide of the left-hand post despite the apparent desperate scrambling of 'keeper Kuipers across his goal.
Having spent the first ten minutes of the game under fairly constant pressure, Town started to get hold of the ball and enjoy a bit of possession. The Brighton team was determined and physical, but Nathan Clarke was leading the defence well and the next shot on target came courtesy of Chris Brandon after 17 minutes - although it was a tame effort from the edge of the box.
Another free-kick caused Town some real danger after 22 minutes; a deep, curling delivery from Dean Cox found Martot at the far post, but the angle was too acute for the French winger to turn the ball home and he could only find the side netting.
Robbie Williams over-hit a pass in the 25th minute when trying to play Luke Beckett in on goal, which was a real shame as Beckett had a clear run on Michel Kuipers' goal if the weight of the ball had been correct. A sharp spin and shot from Brighton top scorer Nicky Forster never seriously tested Glennon at the other end of the pitch a minute later.
Right-back Andrew Whing then tamely headed a Dean Cox corner well wide on the stroke of the half-hour.
Town had a real chance to open the scoring after 33 minutes; Phil Jevons did well to outmuscle a Brighton defender in the far corner before advancing along the byline and crossing towards Luke Beckett. The goalkeeper touched the ball over Beckett's head, but it fell to Chris Brandon who powerfully volleyed back towards goal. Unfortunately for the Town fans in attendance, the ball was deflected wide for a corner.
By now, the game was a very even affair. Brighton's 'in your face' style was being negated well by the Terriers after the home side's good opening ten minutes, although little was being created in attack. All four strikers on the pitch were being starved of service as the game petered out towards the half-time interval.
Town created a great chance in added time in the half courtesy of Andy Holdsworth. The Town man passed the ball into Luke Beckett's feet and ran on, eventually receiving a ball over the top from Michael Collins. Holdsworth kept the ball in on the right touchline and looped a pass into the middle for Luke Beckett. Unusually, the striker scuffed his shot as the ball rolled across him on the edge of the box, allowing Kuipers to collect easily.
Half-Time: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Huddersfield Town 0
Town started brightly and created a good chance after just a minute. Chris Brandon picked up a loose ball on the corner of the penalty box before sliding a pass towards the dead ball line. Luke Beckett pulled a low ball across the box, but Phil Jevons lofted his shot well over the bar when leaning back around twelve yards out.
A Brighton corner led to another scramble after 48 minutes, where Andy Whing forced a comfortable save from Matt Glennon.
The Town fans were audible in the second-half, which was a credit to them as they inhabited one of the most unfriendly away ends in the division. They thought their side would take the lead after 55 minutes when Luke Beckett turned the ball around the corner for strike partner Jevons to run onto, but his right foot drive from the edge of the box was tipped around the post by the Brighton custodian.
BOOKING - Joe Skarz was booked after 56 minutes of the game for a foul on the right touchline as Brighton tried to break after a Town corner.
Brighton's best chance of the game so far fell to Nicky Forster after 59 minutes after a ball over the top released him in on goal. The striker had found space between Clarke and Mirfin, but Matt Glennon rushed out immediately and blocked the shot at the former Reading man's feet.
SUB - Town made their first change after 60 minutes, replacing a hobbling Andy Holdsworth with James Berrett.
Berrett immediately got involved in the action, collecting a pass inside the box from Luke Beckett - who had done well to hold the ball up - before switching it left to Robbie Williams. Unfortunately, the left winger scuffed his shot well wide of goal when well positioned.
Cox came back into the game for Brighton; playing a one-two with Forster and trying to shoot towards goal left footed, only to find that Michael Collins had tracked his run brilliantly to block the 66th minute effort.
SUB - Joe Skarz was withdrawn after 71 minutes, with Malvin Kamara his replacement. Robbie Williams dropped to left-back, with Brandon switching to the left wing and Malvin occupying his usual right midfield berth.
A smart turn and shot from Alex Revell forced a corner two minutes later, from which the opening goal came.
GOAL - Brighton took the lead after 74 minutes through big defender Tommy Elphick. The centre-back rose highest to meet a right-wing corner from Cox and headed the ball firmly back across goal and into the left side of Matt Glennon's goal.
GOAL - Town immediately equalised, with Robbie Williams scoring a stunning first for the Club after 77 minutes. Luke Beckett was fouled by Adam El-Abd when challenging from an aerial ball and Williams came across to swing the set-piece into the top left corner, leaving the sprawling Kuipers with no chance.
The game suddenly came to life, with Albion trying to hit back just as Town had. However, a great pass inside the full-back from Berrett set Chris Brandon free and he won a corner with eight minutes left that Nathan Clarke put wide.
BOOKING - Dean Cox was booked by the referee with four minutes left after he went straight through Nathan Clarke, who had cleared the ball.
SUB - Brighton then made their first change in the 86th minute, replacing Alex Revell with Gary Hart.
Chris Brandon then slid a ball wide of Kuipers' goal with two minutes left after being played in by Beckett.
SUB - David Martot was then replaced by Nathan Elder in the 87th minute.
In the dieing minutes, Malvin Kamara easily outpaced left-back Roberts and picked out Jevons, but the striker's clever back-heel fired inches wide of the near post.
RED-CARDS: Town had the ball in the corner as the match finished, but Chris Brandon and Gary Hart got involved in an altercation and were both shown straight red cards by the referee.
Huddersfield Town
Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth (James Berrett 60), Joe Skarz (Malvin Kamara 71), Michael Collins, David Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Chris Brandon, Jonathan Worthington (c), Robbie Williams, Phil Jevons, Luke Beckett
Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Malvin Kamara, Matthew Young, James Berrett, Shane Killock
Booked: Joe Skarz 56
Sent-Off: Chris Brandon 90
