On a brisk Saturday afternoon at the Accu Stadium, 16,951 fans witnessed a Sky Bet League One showdown that had everything: early drama, defensive lapses, and a late, rousing comeback. Huddersfield Town and Blackpool played out a pulsating 2-2 draw, with the Terriers clawing back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a point and keep head coach Liam Manning’s unbeaten start alive.
For much of the match, it looked as though Blackpool—struggling with recent form and carrying the baggage of five defeats in their last six league outings—were about to rewrite their narrative in West Yorkshire. Instead, they returned home with a sense of frustration, having let slip what seemed a comfortable lead.
The opening stages saw Huddersfield’s Dion Charles burst into action, tormenting the Blackpool defense. Charles nearly gave the Terriers an early advantage, hitting the outside of the post from a tight angle and then setting up Bali Mumba with a golden opportunity that the wing-back, at full stretch, could only steer wide of an empty net. Blackpool’s defense, marshaled by Olly Casey and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, survived the early onslaught—but not without a few nervous moments.
Despite Huddersfield’s bright start, it was Blackpool who drew first blood. A well-worked corner routine saw James Husband chest the ball on the far side and lob it back toward goal. Debutant Leighton Clarkson, showing composure beyond his years, volleyed a cutback from the byline into the path of Ashley Fletcher. The striker, in red-hot form all season, made no mistake from close range, slotting home his 19th goal of the campaign. Huddersfield’s keeper Lee Nicholls got a hand to it, but the ball squeezed under his body and over the line. According to one local report, "Should have kept out Ashley Fletcher’s set piece goal... but it squeezed under his body and over the line off his hand."
Blackpool doubled their advantage just nine minutes later. The move started with Clarkson, whose searching pass found Reuell Walters on the right. Walters whipped in a teasing cross, and Karoy Anderson—another recent signing—escaped his marker to nod home at the back post. The Terriers’ defense, already missing the authority of the injured Joe Low, looked vulnerable and was left ruing its lack of organization.
Huddersfield nearly conceded a third before halftime, as Michael Ihiekwe’s back-post effort forced a fingertip save from Nicholls. The home crowd, restless and vocal, grumbled at both the officiating and their team’s defensive frailties. The Terriers went into the break trailing 2-0 and, for the first time since Manning’s arrival, in real danger of defeat.
Blackpool’s starting lineup was a blend of new faces and seasoned campaigners: Peacock-Farrell, Casey, Ihiekwe, Husband, Walters, Jordan Brown, Anderson, Clarkson, CJ Hamilton, Michael Obafemi, and Fletcher. The visitors looked to protect their lead after the interval, with Fletcher again testing Nicholls with a sharp volley that the Huddersfield keeper did well to parry.
But as the second half wore on, the tide began to turn. Manning, sensing his team’s need for a spark, shuffled his pack. Substitutes David Kasumu, Bobby Wales (making his debut), Mickel Miller, Lasse Sorensen, and Cameron Ashia were all introduced as the Terriers shifted formation and pressed forward with renewed intent.
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute. Mickel Miller, showing tenacity in the corner, won a duel and set up Sorensen for a pinpoint cross from the right. Marcus Harness, who had been one of Huddersfield’s few bright spots in a lackluster first half, rose highest to bury a thumping header past Peacock-Farrell. "Put an unstoppable header home from Sorensen’s cross to give Town hope of a comeback," noted a match analyst.
With the deficit halved, the Accu Stadium roared to life. Blackpool, who had seemed so assured earlier on, suddenly looked jittery. The Terriers pressed on, and with two minutes left in regular time, substitute Cameron Ashia delivered the equalizer. After good work from Miller and a precise cross from Bali Mumba, Ashia arrived at the back post to head home, sending the home fans into raptures. The comeback was complete, and Manning’s unbeaten run stretched to four matches.
"Ashia kicked the door down as Manning’s unbeaten start to his Town tenure was extended to a fourth match," observed a Yorkshire Post columnist. The head coach’s tactical tweaks and inspired substitutions had paid off, as his side showed character and resilience in adversity.
Huddersfield’s lineup featured Nicholls in goal, a back three of Balker, Wallace, and Feeney (later replaced by Miller), with Gooch and Mumba operating as wing-backs. Ledson and McGuane anchored the midfield, while Harness, Humphreys, and Charles formed the attacking trident. Substitutions reshaped the formation, with Kasumu, Wales, Sorensen, and Ashia all making telling contributions.
For Blackpool, the draw was a bitter pill. Their attacking play, especially in the first half, belied their poor away record this season. Fletcher and Anderson’s goals were well-taken, and new signings Walters and Clarkson made positive impressions. Yet, defensive lapses and a failure to manage the game’s closing stages proved costly.
Huddersfield’s defense, meanwhile, will need to tighten up if they are to push further up the table. The absence of Joe Low was keenly felt, and several players, including Radinio Balker and Lynden Gooch, struggled at times. Still, the fighting spirit on display in the final 20 minutes offered encouragement for the Terriers’ supporters.
The match will be remembered for its dramatic swings and the sense that, under Manning, Huddersfield Town are never out of a contest. "Consistently inconsistent is a charge you can level at Town regarding 2025-26 so far and this had all the makings of being one of their disappointing days against a side who were rapidly becoming a real bogey team," wrote one observer. Instead, Town showed their mettle and, with the help of their substitutes, secured a hard-earned point.
As the dust settles, both teams will reflect on missed opportunities and lessons learned. For Huddersfield, the comeback keeps momentum building under Manning. For Blackpool, it’s a reminder that no lead is ever truly safe in League One. With the season’s business end approaching, every point—and every comeback—could prove crucial.