Striking a balance, dropped points, importance of investment - Huddersfield 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 Talking Points

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE

ROVERS had shipped 11 goals in their four defeats coming in to this one, but had maintained a goal threat in each of those outings.

Here however, they stuck to a more defensive game-plan in a bid to restrict the freedom that Huddersfield had enjoyed at Ewood Park just four weeks previous.

As part of that, Marvin Emnes dropped to the bench, and with that change of personnel and mindset, Rovers lost some of their attacking threat.

But their approach was much more like what you would expect from a team in the bottom three, and to their credit they did restrict the number of opportunities Huddersfield carved out.

Jason Steele made two important saves in the first-half, but those apart, it would be hard to recall many other clear cut chances.

Not that it took much to think of Rovers’ opportunities, a Sam Gallagher run and shot apart, with Danny Graham scoring from their only shot on target.

Now it’s about carrying on this disciplined defensive organisation and adding it to the attacking performances of recent weeks and striking a happy medium.

DROPPED POINTS

NAKHI Wells’ injury-time equaliser for Huddersfield was the sixth time that Rovers have conceded a goal past the 85th minute mark in a game.

That has seen them lose out on nine points, and sitting three points from safety, it’s clear to see where they would be had they seen those games out.

Their management of the game in injury time was disappointing, seemingly stuck between whether to go for what would have been a killer second goal or take a more professional of running the ball in to the corner.

There something of a naivety to the way Liam Feeney lost the ball in the build up to Huddersfield equaliser, and with better decision-making, Rovers could have easily seen this one through.

Points, as Rovers have found this season, are hard enough to come by in the Championship without losing them late on in games.

But, holding on to leads is that much difficult for a team which has found winning difficult, as Rovers have with just five from their opening 24 outings.

INVESTMENT IMPORTANT

NOT a game seems to go by without Rovers losing another player to injury or unavailability.

Such was the need to get Corry Evans back in to the side, he appears to have again been struck by his long standing groin injury which needs to be got to the bottom of so that Rovers don’t continue to be without the Northern Ireland international.

Injuries and unavailability elsewhere saw teenager Lewis Travis drafted in to the squad, and while great to see Academy graduates handed an opportunity with the first-team squad, with the position Rovers find themselves in, it’s a time for experienced heads.

With Jack Byrne and Stephen Hendrie heading back to their respective clubs in January, Marvin Emnes’ loan up in the middle of January, uncertainty over the future of Ben Marshall and a lengthy injury list, Rovers need some fresh faces to add both quality and competition for the vital second half of the season.