HUDDERSFIELD TOWN blew hot and cold against promotion rivals MK Dons in an entertaining clash of passing teams at a freezing Galpharm.

Two precious home points slipped away, however, as Lee Clark’s side, who started like a house on fire, didn’t get a break with close late chances for Jack Hunt (who hit the bar) and Scott Arfield, who was inches wide with a low shot.

Clark gave a debut to new signing Kallum Higginbotham, slotting the acquisition from Falkirk just behind front-runner Jordan Rhodes.

The ploy looked as though it could reap instant dividends as Higginbotham buzzed about to great effect, linking well with the midfield.

And with Town operating something close to a basketball-style full court press in the opening minutes the visitors were looking fragile as they were denied the time and space to play their trademark style.

Dons boss Karl Robinson included his two loan signings from Newcastle in former Leeds midfielder Alan Smith, booed like a pantomime villain by the Town fans every time he touched the ball, while young James Tavernier had his mettle tested by lively Town winger Danny Cadamarteri.

Perhaps Cadamarteri’s performance epitomised Town’s display as he spent the majority of the first half on the front foot and posing MK problems, yet spent much of the second period feeding off scraps and struggling to make as much impact as in the first 45.

Early chances saw crosses from Higginbotham and Cadamarteri arrive a little too high for defender Jamie McCombe and then Rhodes to be able to put headers on target, but the best effort of the half from the home side saw midfielder Scott Arfield connect perfectly with a dropping clearance and his effort forced a save from Dons keeper David Martin.

As the half wore on Town looked as though they might be denied any reward for their efforts, but as the first period crept into injury time McCombe was a part of another raid and headed home decisively as he met a well-flighted cross from Higginbotham.

It can be only assumed that Dons boss Robinson made it very evident to his team in the half-time interval that they were off the pace and off their game as they returned for the second half looking a different proposition.

Inside the first six minutes both Town skipper Gary Naysmith and midfielder Tommy Miller collected cautions for rushed challenges which underlined the more assertive approach of the Dons.

And on 62 minutes the visitors had their reward with an equaliser that was blessed with more than a little fortune as Stephen Gleeson whipped in a free kick from the touchline and his in-swinging effort managed to elude everyone – including Town keeper Ian Bennett – and find the top corner of the net.