Birmingham failed miserably to build on their impressive 7-0 success at Stoke
last weekend as they were held to their fourth goalless home draw of the season
by battling Huddersfield.
The Terriers appeared to set out to frustrate the home side and their tactics
were highly productive, with skipper Andy Morrison effective in snuffing out
Paul Furlong's threat.
Furlong scored a hat-trick at Stoke but was not allowed a single chance by
resolute Morrison.
Birmingham have scored only 12 goals in 13 home matches this season but
threatened to demolish Huddersfield in the early stages when they produced some
confident, attractive football of which industrious Martin O'Connor was the
driving force.
O'Connor had a goal disallowed in the first half for an off-the-ball
infringement involving another Birmingham player which was spotted by the
referee's assistant.
Shortly after, Huddersfield's on-loan goalkeeper Steve Harper was beaten by
another O'Connor effort but Grant Johnson cleared the effort off the line.
Harper later distinguished himself with two excellent saves either side of
half-time from Nicky Forster.
Huddersfield, who put five goals past Oxford last weekend, were content to
contain Birmingham and posed few real problems in attack.
Birmingham manager Trevor Francis sent on all three substitutes - Peter
Ndlovu, Michael Johnson and Kevin Francis - in an attempt to break the deadlock,
but to little effect.
There was one anxious moment in the closing stages when Francis appeared to be
pushed down in the penalty area by David Phillips, but the referee failed to
spot the incident and Huddersfield held on for another valuable point in their
bid to climb to safety.
Teams
Birmingham: Bennett, Bass (Francis 83), Charlton, Bruce, Ablett,
Marsden, McCarthy, O'Connor (Ndlovu 61), Furlong, Hughes,
Forster (Johnson 75).
Huddersfield: Harper, Jenkins, Phillips, Dyson, Morrison, Gray,
Dalton (Barnes 88), Horne, Stewart, Allison, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Edwards, Richardson.
Booked: Gray, Horne.
Att: 17,850
Ref: M J Jones (Chester).
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