Huddersfield Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1

Last updated : 26 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck 18 minutes from time to end Nottingham Forest's 100 per cent start to the season and earn Huddersfield Town a point.

Taylor-Fletcher, who scored the 500,000th Football League goal two weeks ago, pounced with a header after Danny Schofield's drive was tipped onto the woodwork.

Forest had taken the lead in the 34th minute through striker Grant Holt and seemed to be on target for their best start to a season in more than a century.

Had they secured their fifth straight win at the Galpharm Stadium it would have been the club's best opening to a campaign since 1891, but Colin Calderwood's men sat back after the break and paid the price.

The visitors were good value for their half-time lead but in the second period Huddersfield pushed forward and deserved a point.

Both sides went out of the Carling Cup to lower league opposition in the week and Huddersfield, who had fielded a near full-strength side, needed to put on a show for the home fans.

The attendance, at 11,720, was at least 5,000 down on what might have been expected due to the town's rugby league club, Huddersfield Giants, being in Challenge Cup Final action against St Helens at Twickenham.

Andy Booth, recalled to the starting line-up, battled hard but he and Luke Beckett found the Forest defence difficult to break down.

A Booth header went close before Schofield, who showed skill and poise throughout, struck a free-kick which deflected out for a corner.

Schofield then went on a weaving run but his curling shot was straight at Forest keeper Paul Smith.

James Perch wasted a good chance for Forest when he turned and fired just beyond the post, but the visitors did take the lead 11 minutes before the interval with Holt's third goal of the season.

Sammy Clingan hoisted a free-kick into the box and Town defenders Booth, David Mirfin and Nathan Clarke all got in each other's way and allowed goal poacher Holt to stab the ball home.

The second half was all Huddersfield and Taylor-Fletcher's flick header brought a great save from Smith.

Beckett stumbled over in the box and the ball cannoned off his knee but again Smith was there.

Just past the hour-mark Schofield burst between two defenders and rounded a third only to see his curling shot beaten away by Smith.

Schofield had the home fans on their feet with a superb curling effort in the 72nd minute and couldn't believe it when Smith tipped it onto the frame of the goal. Taylor-Fletcher was first to react and finished off the rebound.

Sub Pawel Abbott and Booth both had late chances but Forest were happy to keep their unbeaten start intact.