On a chilly Saturday afternoon at the Accu Stadium, Huddersfield Town and Blackpool delivered a League One spectacle that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. In front of a crowd of 16,951, Blackpool looked set to break their recent run of poor form, racing to a two-goal lead by halftime. But a spirited Huddersfield comeback in the last 20 minutes ensured the spoils were shared, as the match ended 2-2 and extended Liam Manning’s unbeaten start as Terriers head coach to four games.
From the outset, both sides showed attacking intent, but it was Blackpool who capitalized first. Early warning signs for Huddersfield came courtesy of Dion Charles, who was a constant menace down the right. Charles skinned his man to get into dangerous positions, saw one fierce strike rattle the outside of the post, and whipped a low cross across the face of goal that Bali Mumba, at full stretch, just couldn’t convert into the open net. Blackpool’s defense, marshaled by Olly Casey, had to be alert to deny Marcus Harness a close-range opener in the opening exchanges.
Despite Huddersfield’s early pressure, it was Blackpool who drew first blood. A well-worked corner routine saw James Husband find debutant Leighton Clarkson, who volleyed a clever cutback from the byline. Ashley Fletcher, showing the predatory instincts that have brought him 19 goals in all competitions this season, was on hand to finish from close range. The ball squeezed under Huddersfield keeper Lee Nicholls, who perhaps should have done better, but the visitors weren’t about to complain.
Blackpool, buoyed by the opener, doubled their advantage just nine minutes later. Michael Obafemi picked up the ball and spotted Reuell Walters in acres of space out wide. Walters, one of several new signings making an instant impact, whipped in a cross to the back post where Karoy Anderson, on loan from Charlton Athletic, rose unmarked to head home and make it 2-0. Huddersfield’s defense, missing the authority of the injured Joe Low, looked ragged and shell-shocked.
It could have been even worse for the Terriers before halftime. Michael Ihiekwe’s back-post effort needed a fingertip save from Lee Nicholls to keep Blackpool from adding a third. As the teams went into the break, Blackpool’s supporters could hardly believe their luck—this was a side that had lost five of their last six league outings, suddenly looking composed and clinical away from home.
Huddersfield, though, weren’t about to roll over. Manning, facing his biggest test since taking charge, made tactical tweaks at halftime, switching to a back four but initially resisting personnel changes. Still, Blackpool threatened to extend their lead. Fletcher forced Nicholls into a smart save with a volley early in the second half, but from there, the Seasiders seemed more focused on protecting their lead than building on it.
Gradually, the momentum shifted. Huddersfield’s substitutes began to make their presence felt. Bobby Wales, making his debut after a deadline day loan move, gave Town a new outlet up front. Mickel Miller, another second-half introduction, played a key role in turning the tide. But it was Lasse Sorensen, coming on for Lynden Gooch, who provided the spark. In the 75th minute, Sorensen delivered a perfect cross from the right, and Marcus Harness, who had been one of Huddersfield’s few bright spots in a disjointed first half, met it with an unstoppable header to pull the hosts back into the contest.
The goal injected fresh belief into the Terriers and sent a ripple of nervousness through the Blackpool ranks. The visitors, who had looked so assured for much of the match, suddenly found themselves under siege. Huddersfield poured forward, and with just two minutes of regular time remaining, the comeback was complete. Miller, showing great determination on the left, combined with Mumba, who delivered a teasing cross to the back post. Substitute Cameron Ashia, only on the pitch for a handful of minutes, timed his run perfectly to head home and spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.
Blackpool’s frustration was palpable. They had legitimate complaints about a possible foul on Fletcher in the build-up to Huddersfield’s first goal, but referee Ross Joyce waved away the appeals. As the final whistle blew, the Seasiders were left to rue a missed opportunity to collect all three points, especially after such a dominant first half.
For Huddersfield, the draw felt like a victory of sorts. Manning’s men had shown real character to fight back from two goals down, and the performance of the substitutes highlighted the depth and resilience in the squad. The unbeaten run under the new head coach continues, and the Terriers remain a tough nut to crack at home.
"We showed real spirit in the second half," Manning said after the match. "The lads who came off the bench made a massive impact. That’s what we need if we’re going to keep pushing up the table."
Blackpool boss Ian Evatt, meanwhile, was visibly disappointed. "We should have killed the game off," he admitted. "We had the chances to do it, but credit to Huddersfield—they kept coming at us. It’s a tough one to take, but we have to learn from it and move on."
Statistically, the match was a tale of two halves. Blackpool’s new signings—Clarkson, Walters, and Anderson—all started and made telling contributions, especially in the first period. Fletcher’s 19th goal of the campaign underlined his importance to the Seasiders. On the Huddersfield side, Dion Charles was a constant threat, and the late goals from Harness and Ashia will give the Terriers plenty of confidence heading into their next fixtures.
The result means both teams remain in the thick of the League One playoff chase, with plenty still to play for as the season enters its decisive months. For Huddersfield, the draw extends their unbeaten streak under Manning and reinforces the belief that this could be a season of real progress. For Blackpool, the search for consistency goes on, but there were enough positives in their attacking play to suggest better days may be just around the corner.
As fans filed out of the Accu Stadium, there was a sense that they’d witnessed one of those classic League One encounters—full of drama, momentum swings, and moments of genuine quality. Neither side took home all three points, but both left with plenty to ponder as the race for promotion heats up.