Emyr Huws came to Town’s rescue with a fourth goal in three games to salvage a hard-fought point against Nottingham Forest.

Just five minutes remained when the on-loan Wigan Athletic midfielder rifled home a sizzling long-range shot which seemed to take a deflection on its way into the roof of the net.

Forest had looked set to win through Ryan Mendes’s goal mid-way through the first half in front of the Sky Sports Cameras.

But Town deserve credit for their perseverance in an often frustrating contest, and while they failed to claim a third straight win, they at least have a tangible reward from their ninth game of the season.

Forest arrived in West Yorkshire insisting their home defeat to Middlesbrough last Saturday was an injustice and hungry to chalk up a third straight away win after triumphs at QPR and Birmingham City.

LOOK: Match Action from Huddersfield Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1, 24.09.15

Meanwhile Chris Powell, who named an unchanged side, used his programme notes to call on his team to start with tempo and play on the front foot against opponents who recalled England Under 21 defender Michael Mancienne and played him as a defensive midfielder.

Powell’s Town team included three former Forest players in centre-backs Joel Lynch and Elliott Ward and striker Ishmael Miller.

And they again lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against the visitors’ 4-1-4-1.

Town wideman Mustapha Carayol was busy early on, testing the Forest defence with a teasing cross which forced Kelvin Wilson to hack the ball clear, then sending in a corner which Ward headed narrowly wide.

American right-back Eric Lichaj resorted to body-checking the Middlesbrough loan man and was booked just 11 minutes into the game.

Forest looked happy to soak up Town’s attacks and hit on the counter, and it took a fine clearing header by home right-back Martin Cranie to prevent Chris O’Grady getting on the end of a long ball over the top.

Huddersfield Town v Nottingham Forest, Sky Bet Championship: Ryan Mendes opens the scoring for Forest.
Huddersfield Town v Nottingham Forest, Sky Bet Championship: Ryan Mendes opens the scoring for Forest.

Miller looked desperate to impress against his old employers but was finding the shaven-headed Wilson hard to get past, while keeper Dorus de Vries dived low to deal with Harry Bunn’s drive.

It was again the run of play when Forest took their 23rd-minute lead, on-loan Lille midfielder Mendes shooting home crisply after Lichaj nodded down a cross by Spanish left-back Daniel Pinillos.

Cranie was booked after felling Mendes as Forest surged forward after a Town attack broke down and, for a spell, the home team looked ragged as they tried to regroup, with keeper Jed Steer forced to race out of his area to challenge winger Jamie Ward.

Forest then complained to referee Graham Salisbury as Dean Whitehead escaped a caution after his foul stopped another break, while Steer had to be alert to deal with Ward’s long-range snap-shot.

Town made a brighter start to the second half, and Bunn had a couple of efforts on goal, but Forest continued to defend stubbornly.

Powell replaced Carayol with Nahki Wells after 66 minutes as he sought a route back into the game via two strikers and with Jason Davidson pushing up on the left.

Forest were succeeding in frustrating both Town and their fans, and it took another Steer save to prevent O’Grady counting with a low shot.

Then substitute Chris Burke shot against a post before O’Grady’s follow-up was blocked on the line by Cranie.

Joe Lolley replaced Sean Scannell in a second Town change after 78 minutes.

While Lolley added a spark, it was Huws, who is proving a very valuable aquisition, who finally got the touch that counted.

The Wales international is seldom shy when it comes to shooting from distance and, this time, his effort found the net to the delight of the home contingent.