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HUDDERSFIELD TOWN equalled Nottingham Forest’s best-ever Football League unbeaten run of 42 matches.

But they should have done it with a win rather than a draw as Walsall were allowed back into a frustrating game just when it seemed three points were on the way courtesy of Lee Novak’s 10th goal of the campaign.

Town had four times as many shots on target as their visitors (12 to three) but struggled to penetrate a defence well marshalled by Andy Butler.

The Galpharm old boy was left on his backside just two minutes in as Jordan Rhodes bustled onto Lee Novak’s hooked pass.

But Hungarian goalkeeper Jimmy Grof, in for the suspended Jimmy Walker, was equal to the low shot from Town’s 13-goal top scorer – and the pattern for the afternoon was set.

There was plenty to admire about the approach work of a home team showing two changes from the side which started the 1-0 win at Yeovil (Novak for suspended Alan Lee and Gary Roberts for injured Danny Ward).

But chances went begging as Walsall, who strung five across midfield, put up the shutters and tried to strike on the counter.

Novak and Scott Arfield had put headers wide and Roberts a shot over the top by the time Lee Clark’s side came agonisingly close to a breakthrough three times in two minutes.

First Butler blocked from the busy Arfield, then from the resultant corner flighted in by Roberts, Grof tipped Liam Cooper’s header over.

Roberts swung in another flag kick, and this time Rhodes’ header was parried on the line.

Town had a let-off when Walsall staged their first genuine attack in the 27th minute, Jon Macken kicking an upright in annoyance after scuffing his shot from Richard Taundry’s cross.

But normal service was soon resumed as Town pressed forward again, and Arfield swept a low drive across the face of goal and wide before Cooper met another Roberts corner with a forceful header, only to be foiled by a combination of Grof and Taundry.

Grof saved from Rhodes soon after, then Novak, set up by a sweet pass from his co-striker, looked on in anguish as his goalbound effort was deflected.

The roles were reversed in the 40th minute as Novak played in Rhodes, and a goal looked on the cards as the marksman took aim, only to fire straight at the keeper.

Damien Johnson had a shot saved and Rhodes dipped one over before, early in the second half, heading too high from a Roberts free-kick, awarded for a foul on the energetic Jack Hunt which brought Alex Nicholls a yellow card.

The Midlanders looked livelier for the introduction of Paterson, whose 60th-minute shot was well held by Ian Bennett.

But it took another block, this time by Lee Beevers, to thwart Arfield before Town finally went ahead in the 67th minute.

Roberts found space on the left by taking a short corner to Arfield and receiving the return pass, and his teasing low cross was prodded home at the near post by Novak.

Tommy Miller had a shot blocked as Town sought a second, but it Walsall who registered.

One-time Town trialist left-back Mat Sadler picked out Paterson, who held off Johnson’s attempted challenge and beat Bennett with a well-struck curler.

Rhodes was only just off target as he shot low from Arfield’s pass while Town had Bennett to thank for a one-handed save which prevented another Walsall substitute, Will Grigg, putting his side ahead with a 90th-minute lob after getting goalside of Cooper.

When Hunt went down under Grigg’s stoppage-time tackle, a penalty looked possible, but referee Scott Mathieson instead booked the Town defender for diving.