Huddersfield Town 1-1 Queens Park Rangers: Martyn Waghorn earns Terriers a point

Jamal Lowe opened the scoring for QPR with a header after 13 minutes before Huddersfield hit back

Huddersfield missed the chance to pick up a valuable three points against an out-of-form QPR as the spoils were shared at the John Smith's Stadium.

Jamal Lowe put the visitors in front after 13 minutes when he nipped in to lift a header over debutant Terriers goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

The hosts were back on level terms six minutes before the break when QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng pushed out Joe Hungbo's free-kick but the loose ball was turned in by Martyn Waghorn.

In a second half of few chances the Terriers almost won it late on but substitute Brahima Diarra's shot flashed narrowly wide of the target.

There was a small protest in the stands prior to kick-off as Huddersfield supporters unveiled a banner highlighting their unhappiness over the running of the club, with the Terriers in the relegation zone having been pushing for promotion this time last season.

Huddersfield Town fans unveiled banners protesting the running of the club prior to kick-off which read 'Clowns running the club' and 'Circus in the boardroom'

QPR weathered some early Terriers pressure before taking the lead with their first opening when Matt Lowton failed to deal with a ball over the top, allowing Lowe space to pounce and head past Vaclik.

Huddersfield equalised as half-time approached when Dieng saved Hungbo's free-kick only for Ollie Turton to square the loose ball to the unmarked Waghorn to head in from close range.

Lowe then tested Vaclik from distance as QPR pushed to retake the lead before half-time but the goalkeeper turned it around the post for a corner.

The Terriers upped the pressure as they pushed for the points that would lift them away from danger and Dieng made a smart stop as Huddersfield's top scorer Jordan Rhodes worked an opening.

Martyn Waghorn stooped to head in Huddersfield's equaliser

QPR then failed to make the most of a chance with five minutes remaining as Sinclair Armstrong got on the end of Dieng's pass only to overhit a ball across goal to the waiting Ilias Chair.

Diarra's late shot had Dieng scrambling across his goal but it missed the target and the game ended level.

The point sees Huddersfield stay 22nd and in the relegation zone but they did reduce the gap on Cardiff, who lost at Hull, to two points, while 14th-placed QPR are now without a win in seven league games and with only one victory in their last 15 in all competitions.

Huddersfield head coach Mark Fotheringham:

"It was a really disappointing goal to concede, and the confidence drained from us. We were really negative and weren't playing on the front foot, but we showed good character to come back and perform better in the second half.

"There's a real nervousness around the club and the team at the moment but the squad's really strong now. Our next three or four games could really define our season.

"It's the biggest challenge I've had in my career so far, but I really believe in this group. I'll do everything I possibly can to keep this great club in the league."

QPR boss Neil Critchley:

"It was two teams not in a great moment. I felt we could have really gone and tried to kill the game after the first goal, but we didn't make use of those chances and missed that opportunity.

"We could have played better football, but over a 46-game season, you have to fight and scrap it out sometimes and we've done that today. It was never free-flowing from us today; if we were playing with confidence then I think that we would go and finish the game in the first half.

"I think a point is a fair reflection of the game. It's been frustrating - we've drawn quite a few games and we could have quite easily won a lot of our games. A couple of quick wins changes it very quickly as momentum's a big thing in this division. Most teams have a sticky spell and ours is now; it's just up to us to stick together."

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