A draw was a fair reflection of a high-tempo clash - but it was disappointing Huddersfield Town failed to beat Hull City.
A first victory of the season over a side in the Championship’s current top eight looked on the cards when Hull defender Harry Maguire headed into his own goal in the 90th minute.
But Steve Bruce’s side are nothing if not persistent, and they claimed a second equaliser through Adama Diomande after Abel Hernandez had earlier cancelled out Jamie Paterson’s first-half opener for Town.
You have to say former Town manager Bruce made good use of his substitutes.
David Wagner speaks about the Hull City match
In a double change in the 75th minute, Diomande and Sone Aluko replaced Mo Diame and Robert Snodgrass respectively.
Within 60 seconds Aluko had set up recalled top scorer Hernandez for his 18th goal of the season.
Then Diomande headed home three minutes into the six added on to cut Town’s points haul to one.
Nine-point gaps are now key to both clubs.
With 15 to play for, that’s the number Town are above the drop zone after MK Dons lost 4-0 at home to Rotherham United and Charlton Athletic went down 2-1 at QPR (Bolton Wanderers are relegated after their 4-1 thumping at Derby County).
And Hull, who still have six regular-season games to go, are nine points off the automatic promotion places and need to find an upturn in form if they are to maintain their place among the play-off positions.
Bruce’s side, of course, were in the Premier League last season, and of the 14 players used in this game, 12 were full internationals, including scorers Hernandez (Uruguay) and Diomande (Norway).
Hull were comfortable 2-0 winners over Town at the KC Stadium back on the opening day of the campaign, so the draw at the John Smith’s represents a clear improvement.
It was also a decent performance by David Wagner’s side, who having been distinctly second-best at second-placed Middlesbrough, gave the fourth-placed visitors a real run for their money.
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Hull might have hit the bar through Tom Huddlestone (former Town loanee Alex Bruce also skied a great opportunity in first-half stoppage time).
But the number of chances Town created was well up on the previous Saturday’s tally at home to Sheffield Wednesday and Tuesday’s at Middlesbrough and five of them were on target.
It took fine saves by Scotland international Allan McGregor to thwart Emyr Huws, who had a great game in midfield, and 16-goal top scorer Nahki Wells,
And it was good to see Rajiv van La Parra enjoy a bright home debut.
The Dutchman, signed on loan from Wolves ahead of a £750,000 summer transfer, had failed to shine on his debut over at Leeds United and was only on the pitch for the closing stages at Middlesbrough.
But he showed plenty of promise against Hull and was given a rousing ovation when he was brought off in the 72nd minute, his replacement Harry Bunn putting in the cross which led to Maguire’s own goal.
