Huddersfield Town 2-2 AFC Bournemouth

Sep 6 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Town created enough chances to have won comfortably, but couldn’t really complain after being denied all three points.

Lee Clark’s side struggled to find any real fluency for much of a first half bossed by Bournemouth, who took a 33rd-minute lead through in-form striker Josh McQuoid.

But buoyed by Antony Kay’s headed equaliser in first-half stoppage time, Town began the second period strongly, and were in front by the 48th minute, when Gary Roberts put away a penalty with aplomb.

The strike sparked the home team’s best period of the game, and had Alan Lee’s 63rd-minute effort gone in rather than hit the right-hand post, the visitors’ challenge would surely have been finished.

The Cherries survived, however, and picked up a point through Marc Pugh’s 79th-minute equaliser and some stubborn late defending.

The bright reputation built by Dean Court boss Eddie Howe was illustrated when he was linked with the vacancy along the coast at Southampton in the build-up to Saturday’s clash.

And his reputation won’t have been harmed by this display, forged on a 4-1-4-1 system which proved tough to break down and provided opportunities to push forward thanks to some quick closing down.

Town didn’t help themselves with some misplaced passes, and Anton Robinson had already gone close from Pugh’s corner by the time McQuoid struck.

Only elevated to the starting side by Brett Pitman’s transfer to Bristol City, the Northern Ireland Under 21 striker has certainly made the most of his opportunity.

Midfielder Marvin Bartley might have done the spadework by robbing Joey Gudjonsson and surging forward, but it needed a composed finish, and McQuoid provided it with a curling right-foot effort from just outside the penalty area for his fourth goal in three outings.

McQuoid almost claimed another on 35 minutes, when his close-range effort from Liam Feeney’s cross went just wide, and Bournemouth were made to regret that missed chance as Town finally found their feet at the end of the half.