Sunderland 1-1 Huddersfield Town: Josh Koroma earns point for Terriers

Josh Koroma celebrates his equaliser with David Kasumu

Josh Koroma's individual strike earned Huddersfield a valuable point in their fight against relegation and dented Sunderland's play-off hopes.

The Black Cats threatened to break into the top six when Joe Gelhardt rifled home to give them a first-half lead at the Stadium of Light.

But Koroma's run and finish just before the hour earned the Terriers a draw.

Huddersfield stay 19th, two points above the bottom three, while Sunderland climb a place to eighth.

Neil Warnock's side, who had won two of their past three away games, began brightly and Josh Ruffels set up an early opportunity for Danny Ward, who swivelled and fired a shot that took a deflection behind.

But the hosts gradually started to get on top and Gelhardt's effort was blocked at close range before Terriers goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik got down well to foil Lynden Gooch.

With momentum building, Sunderland took a 35th-minute lead when Amad Diallo brought the ball out from halfway and threaded a pass to Gelhardt, who controlled and drilled a low left-foot finish into the corner.

Town responded positively, with Jaheim Headley going close either side of the interval - the second of those chances a drive that he scuffed wide of the far post after Trai Hume made a hash of clearing Koroma's cross.

It was Koroma who brought his side level, making a powerful driving run to the edge of the box and firing a shot that appeared to take a slight deflection as it zipped beyond Anthony Patterson.

Sunderland pressed forward in search of a third straight league victory and Diallo almost restored their lead, testing Vaclik again from distance.

Jack Clarke also came close for the Black Cats, who also threw on 17-year-old forward Tommy Watson for his debut in the closing stages, but they were unable to find a winner.

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:

"We didn't get to the levels we needed to get to. We had to try and play through them and it's pretty dangerous. If you turn the ball over you're in trouble and we were trying to be mindful of that.

"They make life difficult for you. At times it was a bit scrappy and we didn't have men in forward areas.

"We're frustrated with the goal we lost. The guy stays on the ball for too long, he travels 30 or 40 yards and whacks it in the top corner and somebody's got to tackle him.

"If you're going to be a team that genuinely challenges, you have to find consistency, and I think we fell a bit short tonight."

Huddersfield manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Leeds:

"Tonight's game's not going to define where we finish, but I wanted a performance and they've done me proud.

"It's a good point, no more than we deserved. We wanted to be a little bit more attacking when we could - and we were.

"It's not very often we're disappointed at coming away with just one point, but we are tonight.

"At half-time, even though we'd done well, I just felt we could step it up a yard and we did. I didn't think Sunderland could cope with it in the second half."