Five conclusions: Slow start, super subs and a sublime strike at Blackpool

Joe Taylor and Brodie Spencer hit a rapid-fire double to rescue a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road after a rank first half

1. One tick, one cross

Beyond the usual objective of getting a good result, Huddersfield Town had two big talking points to address in this game after their recent dealings in the transfer market.

After we pulled up the stats to show how little Town had missed Michal Helik when he had been absent this season, it was unfortunate PR timing on Town’s part to concede the worst goal we’ve seen for a while — and just moments after one of Town’s remaining centre-backs missed a huge opportunity at the other end.

Matty Pearson will be disappointed not to have converted Tom Lees’ cross from a well-worked set piece routine. Just two minutes later, Lees, Brodie Spencer and Jacob Chapman all looked as though they should have done better as Rob Apter skipped into the box from the right wing and fired into the near bottom corner.

It didn’t get much better for the Town defence until the break. At times a back four and at others a five, the rearguard looked unsure of what their spacing ought to be and kept leaving a huge gap between Pearson and Ollie Turton. On several occasions, the right-back was left with three players to deal with on his own; the second Blackpool goal was the result.

One-nil to the ‘don’t sell Helik’ brigade, then.

But after the break, Joe Taylor popped up with his only real contribution to an otherwise quiet outing, scoring a goal that we’re not sure any other member of the Town squad would have been able to convert.

Antony Evans’ high, looping cross left Taylor with an awful lot to do with his back to goal. His brilliant first touch set him up perfectly to spin and shoot with such accuracy and power through a crowded box that the keeper had no chance.

Dion Charles, meanwhile, put in a promising debut performance, offering more than Taylor in his all-round play.

Town still have a point to prove regarding the decision to sell Helik – but so far, so good when it comes to the impact of the new centre-forwards.