Terriers tipped for top-six finish as they twice wipe out deficit

Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren is backing Huddersfield to finish in the top six after seeing their quality and character at first hand.

The Dane had some important saves to make in a pulsating West Yorkshire derby draw, watched by Elland Road’s biggest league crowd of the season – 36,723.

Yet he could not prevent fifth-placed Town from becoming the first visitors to score more than one goal at the ground this season.

After leading three times against Tranmere in midweek, only to draw 3-3, the Terriers twice fell behind against their neighbours but hit back and almost snatched a late win.

Ankergren said: “Gary Roberts with his left foot and Anthony Pilkington with his right delivered some quality set-pieces.

“Huddersfield know what they are doing and I would be very surprised if they are not in the top six when the season is finished. I think both teams can be happy with a draw.”

Ankergren admitted he was deceived by Pilkington’s 90th-minute free-kick, which struck the underside of the bar and the Dane’s shoulder en route to safety.

The keeper said: “I thought it was going over the bar but it dipped a bit and I didn’t want to give away a stupid corner in a game like this because they had some quality deliveries from set-pieces.

“Luckily nothing happened but next time I think I will just put my hand up and tip the ball over, no matter what. My heart was in my mouth – but you need a bit of luck.

“A draw was a fair result. Huddersfield are a good side who have some real quality going forward.”

United could hardly have made a better start, Robert Snodgrass seizing on a mistake by goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who failed to hold Sam Vokes’ tame shot with less than two minutes gone.

With full backs Jason Crowe and Tony Capaldi struggling to contain Roberts and Pilkington, Leeds needed massive performances from centre-backs Leigh Bromby and Lubo Michalik, who repeatedly made vital tackles, blocks and clearances.

Town’s top scorer Jordan Rhodes shot against the near post soon after the opening goal and, after Snodgrass was also denied by a post shortly before the break, Ankergren had to make a point-blank save from Rhodes.

When Town’s first equaliser arrived it was no more than their imaginative football deserved. Nathan Clarke’s shot deflected to Lee Novak, who headed past Ankergren from six yards. It was the first goal Leeds had conceded in six league games.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson replaced Vokes and the industrious Neil Kilkenny with Luciano Becchio and Max Gradel just after the hour and once again Gradel made his presence felt after leaving the bench.

Ankergren, having made an excellent save from Antony Kay, made a long clearance, Jermaine Beckford won an aerial challenge with Smithies and Gradel steered the ball into the far corner from an acute angle.

Still Town refused to buckle and, with 12 minutes left, Roberts picked out Rhodes with a pinpoint cross from the right and Rhodes ended his five-match goal famine by heading his 14th of the season.

Grayson said: “It was an entertaining game and a marvellous advertisement for League One football. Both teams will be disappointed that they didn’t win but we could easily have lost it just before the end from Pilkington’s free-kick.

“They were disappointing goals for us to concede but overall I can’t be too critical of the team.

“Max again came on and affected the game, which is what he has been doing since joining us on loan. You can’t win every game but we have lost once in the league all season. Any manager would be happy with that and I am.”

Town manager Lee Clark said: “After going a goal down within a minute and a half, the lads showed a lot of character.

“How we were still a goal down at half-time I couldn’t understand because we put in a magnificent performance to hit back twice. We showed a lot of quality on the ball so I was delighted and we could have won it.

“We showed we could compete with the best because the table doesn’t lie – Leeds are the best team in League One at the moment. We have come to their patch and more than matched them.”

Clark defended keeper Smithies over the first goal, saying: “He is the best young keeper in the business and he will go on to play for England. He is entitled to one or two errors now and then. He has saved us so many times.”

Goal-scorer Gradel is ineligible for Tuesday night’s FA Cup second-round replay against Kettering at Elland Road, along with fellow loan players Vokes, Hogan Ephraim and David Martin.

A much-changed Kettering side lost 2-1 at home to Salisbury City yesterday.