Huddersfield Town 1-1 Coventry City: Terriers and Sky Blues play out a hard-fought draw in West Yorkshire

Huddersfield Town secured survival with a 1-1 draw against Coventry City on Saturday afternoon at the John Smith's Stadium, restoring Championship football once again next season.

Huddersfield Town v Coventry City - Sky Bet Championship

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Danny Ward of Huddersfield Town scores their side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Coventry City at John Smith's Stadium on May 01, 2021 in Huddersfield, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

By Raheil M1 May 2021 18:47 BST

Huddersfield Town drew 1-1 with Coventry City in West Yorkshire in the penultimate game of the season for both sides.

The draw, with results going for Huddersfield elsewhere, ensured the Terriers’ safety in the league with a game left in this seasons campaign.

Story of the match

In not the most interesting game in terms of chances, Huddersfield looked the most likely to break the deadlock in the first phase with Richard Keogh coming closest after his missed chance from a cross. But the veteran failed to hit the ball on the turn from a central area inside the box to test the ‘Coventry keeper, completely miss kicking the ball.

Josh Koroma and Yaya Sanogo had the best chances to put Town ahead but were kept out by a valiant Coventry defence. Sanogo, on the end of a through ball on the right hand side in the first half, smashed the ball over the bar as he was put under pressure from the Coventry defence, with Koroma minutes later let loose on the left hand side only to side foot the ball straight into the palms of the goalkeeper.

Coventry seemingly should have claimed a penalty after a Keogh handball, the referee failing to pick up on the breach. But it was the second half which would prove to be much more energetic with many more chances coming to the fore.

Gustavo Hamer rolled the ball into the path of Jordan Shipley, whose curling effort took a deflection, the ball hitting the back of the net in the 69th minute beating Ryan Schofield all ends up to put the visitors ahead. This was Coventry's first ever visit to the John Smith Stadium, the club making history in West Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon.

Following that goal, Carlos Corberan made a double change with Carel Eiting and Danny Ward introduced as Town pushed for a reaction. The Terriers did hit back with an equaliser 10 minutes later as an inswinging floated corner was delivered to the far post into the oppositions danger area, Ben Wilson failed to control the ball with poor goalkeeping the downfall of the Sky Blues as the number 13 flapped at the initial delivery. Danny Ward was on the end of it, taking a fantastic first touch to slot the ball into the back of the net, beating the ‘keeper who failed to recover.

Coventry continued to push to try and get the winner as Callum O'Hare drove inside from the left flank before having his effort on goal blocked from behind. Both teams searched for a winner in the last 10 minutes of the contest but with both defences determined to keep eachother out, the Terriers and the Sky Blues had to settle for the spoils as both teams gained a point with Huddersfield securing safety for another season in the Sky Bet Championship at full time.

Next up for the Terriers is the final game of the Sky Bet Championship season with a trip to the Madjeski Stadium to face Reading on Saturday 8 May 2021, a 12.30 BST kick-off.