Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Steve Hardwick produced a string of fine saves – including one to keep out a second-half penalty from Gary Brazil – as the Terriers battled to a point at Fulham this afternoon.
Hardwick denied Fulham’s on-loan Newcastle United forward from the spot with fifteen minutes to go after Huddersfield captain Peter Jackson had hauled down Kelly Haag. Hardwick, who turned 34 ten days ago, surpassed that stop from the resulting corner by keeping out a Haag header from close range. Fulham dominated the first half but failed to find the back of the net with Jeff Eckhardt’s looping header coming back off the crossbar and Brazil unable to turn home the rebound. Brazil thought he’d scored at the end of the first half but his volley from John Marshall’s free-kick hit the inside of the post and rolled to safety.
The visitors could have nicked all three points in the final five minutes but former Fulham winger Gary Barnett shot straight at Jim Stannard after being played through by Iwan Roberts, who had seen a header palmed away by the Fulham goalkeeper in the first half.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Newson, Baker, Ferney, Kelly, Brazil (Davies 81), Haag. Subs (not used): Skinner.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Hardwick; Trevitt, Parsley, Marsden, Mitchell, Jackson, O’Regan, Edwards (Wilson 76), Robson, Smith, Onoura (Barnett 59).
BOOKED: Marsden.
REFEREE: John Carter (Dorset).
ATTENDANCE: 3,853.
