Huddersfield Town 1-1 Stoke City: Terriers fail to break down resolute Stoke
- Published
Pipa's deflected strike gave the hosts the lead
Huddersfield Town failed to finish their chances against 10-man Stoke City, who held on for a point at the John Smith's Stadium.
Right-back Pipa put the Terriers in front after his early strike from the edge of the 18-yard box deflected in off the thigh of Potters skipper John Mikel Obi.
Michael O'Neill's side were then gifted an equaliser midway through the first half when Naby Sarr's lunging challenge brought down Tom Clarke in the penalty area and Steven Fletcher converted the spot-kick.
But any chance of a first league win in 2021 for the Potters was dented when Rhys Norrington-Davies was shown a straight red for a challenge on Juninho Bacuna on the stroke of half-time.
Referee Gavin Ward sent off the Welshman after he appeared to slide over the top of the ball and wipe out the Huddersfield midfielder.
The hosts dominated the majority of the game but lacked a clinical touch in front of goal, with headers from centre-half Sarr and striker Fraizer Campbell both failing to test City goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the first half.
Lewis O'Brien's powerful shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Gunn shortly after the interval before an effort from Bacuna was headed off the line by James McClean.
The result means the Terriers end a four-match losing streak and stay 14th, meanwhile a third draw in four games drops Stoke to 10th.
Huddersfield Town head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I think it was clear that we wanted to get the three points. It was clear that we wanted to dominate the game from the first minute.
"After we scored the first goal we continued to dominate the game. We concede one penalty which I think we shouldn't have conceded.
"Of course we were playing with one player more. We should have won today. We didn't get the three points that we wanted and needed today."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We had to fight very hard today. I thought we showed great character in second half. We had to work very hard on a pitch that was energy sapping.
"I thought we were passive in the first 10 to 15 minutes, Huddersfield were very good.
"At the time I felt it (the red card) was harsh but it is reckless, he is off the ground. He played the ball. It's such a poor situation to get ourselves into right on the half-time whistle. It's very frustrating that because it's such an avoidable situation.
"It's a good point in the circumstances."