NEWS CHANNELHUDDERSFIELD 1 MK DONS 1
MK Dons players mob Stephen Gleeson after he hit the second half equaliser
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Karl Robinson's charges were second best in the first half and went behind on the stroke of the interval but they were much better following the break.
Both sides had chances to win it but a point was fair between the play-off rivals.
There was a first start for Alan Smith who played in behind striker Charlie MacDonald and Darren Potter recovered from illness to play in the centre of midfield.
James Tavernier, signed on-loan from Newcastle to replace the recalled Adam Smith, also came in to make his debut at right back.
Jay O'Shea and Tom Flanagan dropped to the bench and there was no place in the match-day squad at all for Mathias Doumbe.
Huddersfield started strongly and caused a number of nervy incidents inside the Dons' penalty area.
Dons were not being allowed any time on the ball as home players exerted pressure at every opportunity and as a result loose passes started to creep into play.
Lethal striker Jordan Rhodes nodded the best Huddersfield chance over from close range in an opening ten minutes which was dominated by those in blue and white shirts.
It was one way traffic but from nowhere Smith's looping cross created space for Stephen Gleeson who saw a shot catch a deflection and go wide.
Normal service resumed shortly afterwards though and Rhodes rifled wide from range after latching onto another misplaced pass.
Scott Arfield's nicely struck volley was fortunately straight at David Martin but Huddersfield continued to turn the screw, breaking quickly and creating space in the Dons' final third.
Another Arfield curler looked like it would again be comfortable for Martin but Shaun Williams made it difficult for his own keeper by getting a sliced touch on it, forcing the Dons stopper into a neat diving stop.
The visitors struggled to maintain possession but Gleeson's low centre provided a shooting chance for Dean Bowditch who made things easy for keeper Ian Bennett by scuffing the ball towards goal.
Robinson's side gradually began to grow into the game as the initial Huddersfield onslaught subsided and they began to knock it around nicely towards the end of the half.
Luke Chadwick ran across the edge of the home area but his effort at the end of it was wide of the target.
But the good spell came to nothing as Huddersfield got their noses in front right on the stroke of half-time.
A debatable looking free-kick conceded in the middle of the park by Potter was swept out wide to Kallum Higginbotham, who dinked in a cross which Jamie McCombe headed home.
Dons made a good start to the second half, forcing a couple of corners, but the lack of time being allowed on the ball made it difficult for the passing game to fully click into gear.
Chances had been few and far between but Dons were suddenly level with a goal which was literally a bolt from the blue.
Gleeson crossed in a free-kick from the left hand-side and although he never intended a shot, the ball evaded everyone and dropped in at the far post.
It was reward for a much improved showing after the break and Dons were fired up, demonstrated when Smith entered the book for a crunching challenge on McCombe.
Smith was increasingly riling the home fans and Robinson opted to replace him with Ibehre on 66 minutes.
His departure didn't stop Dons' revival though and the visitors were now looking much the better, attacking with an increased potency.
MacDonald had a great chance to score from within the penalty area but his shot was charged down – a victory now looked there for the taking.
The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated but they raised theiir voices for the closing stages which brought their side, who had become sloppy, back to life.
An audacious effort by Jack Hunt thundered off the bar and hearts were in mouths once more when Arfield stroked inches wide following a corner.
It ended 1-1 though, just like to corresponding fixture at stadiummk.
Huddersfield: Bennett, Hunt, Naysmith, McCombe, Morrison, Arfield, Miller (Robinsojn 76), Gobern, Cadamarteri, Higginbotham, Rhodes. Unused subs: Smithies, Woods, Novak, Lee.
Booked: Naysmith, Miller
Dons: Martin, Tavernier, Lewington, MacKenzie, Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch (O'Shea 75), MacDonald, Smith (Ibehre 66), Williams, Chadwick (Powell 85). Unused subs: Flanagan, McLoughlin.
Booked: Smith.
Att: 15,898 (302)
Ref: Graham Salisbury.
