Instant hero!

Shefki Kuqi is engulfed by teammates after scoring his first goal for Latics.

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Athletic 1, Huddersfield 1

Kuqi shows worth as gutsy Latics hold on for point

SHEFKI Kuqi only took six minutes to become a hero at Boundary Park.

New left-back Bradley Diallo skated down the left wing and swung in a cross which caught Huddersfield’s defence on its heels.

As chances go, this one was gift-wrapped and adorned with gold ribbons. The 34-year-old Finn still had some work to do in getting a clean connection with his head from six yards out, but that was no problem for a player of sufficient quality to have last season played for Newcastle United in the Premier League.

It was a bona fide centre-forward’s goal, from a bone fide centre-forward.

The roar that greeted the ball bouncing into the roof of goalkeeper Ian Bennett’s net was not only a recognition of Athletic taking the lead in what would go on to become a fierce local derby; it was also an expression of anticipated joy to come watching a real number nine — a goal threat, a link-up man and a big old brute in one uncompromising package — going about his business in the season to come.

If the acquisition of Kuqi in midweek was a surprise to many, the goal celebration was not. A chunk of displaced turf in the corner of the field lay testament to the ‘Flying Finn’ producing his famed chest-first swan dive.

The performances of new trio Kuqi, Diallo, in for Paul Black at left-back and producing some lovely touches in his first start, and Tom Adeyemi, an athletic figure in central midfield, will have pleased Dickov.

As will his side’s willingness to fight for possession in the central third of the pitch, the desire to defend the draw in the game’s final stages after being reduced to 10 men and the way in which the home team burst out of the blocks in both halves.

Those positives are tempered. Another goal was conceded from a set piece, as Anthony Kay clipped a lovely left-footed shot in off Alex Cisak’s right-hand post from an outswinging Gary Roberts corner only nine minutes after Kuqi’s header.

At times Huddersfield dominated possession in midfield and Lee Clark has a case to be left feeling his side could have taken a win away with them, substitute Alan Lee particularly unlucky with a sweet turn and shot which smacked against the crossbar in the second half.

And on reflection, Dickov will surely feel that for all the alleged nudges, winks and play-acting which surrounded Oscar Gobern and the Diallo incident, the young former Marseille man was unwise to make the rash lunge which left referee Colin Webster with the option, which he took, of brandishing a red card.

Overall, though, more-or-less matching a club boasting big enough pockets and a large enough squad to theoretically field two competitive XIs in npower League One was a strong effort from Athletic.

After Kuqi’s opening goal, both Reid and Adeyemi had bursts into the penalty area which threatened to set yet further cats among the pigeons for Huddersfield.

Kay should have done better with a header from a Gary Roberts free-kick, before the two linked again to produce the equaliser after 15 minutes, the Terriers captain left unmarked to apply his finish from 12 yards out.

Danny Ward was starting to get into the game down the left flank and it took a good clearance from recalled centre-back Jean-Yves Mvoto to quell the danger as the visitors grew into the game.

Roberts might have done better than sky his far-post half-volley off a Gary Naysmith cross on the half-hour.

Both goalkeepers were extended before half-time. First Reid hit a strong 25-yard shot that was pushed away by a diving Bennett, then Ward cut inside and hit a low shot with his weaker right foot which was well-held by Cisak.

Athletic started the second half apace.

Morais was relieved to see an offside flag raised after he missed when connecting with Reid’s scuffed shot at the far post, sending the ball into the side-netting, before some lovely build-up play ended with Chris Taylor slipping Reid in on goal down the left side of the area.

The four-goal striker hit the ball with his left foot, forcing Bennett into a good reaction save.

Mvoto and Kieran Lee had to come up with alert tackles to prevent first Ward getting in a shot and then Novak from slotting home the rebound.

Athletic were on top, though, and were managing to get in a steady stream of crosses.

James Wesolowski was booked for a late challenge on Anton Robinson and the prone player got up to see a yellow waved in his direction after a stray arm caught Adeyemi.

Donal McDermott emerged from the bench to replace Roberts, who may have done better when failing to connect with a good Jack Hunt cross, and the effect was to give Huddersfield more penetration down the right side of their attack.

Adeyemi got back well to clear as Tommy Miller was ready to off his shot and Ward hit an effort which was held easily by Cisak.

Diallo’s lunge arrived after 76 minutes and left Athletic a man short and manning the barricades as the game ran its course.

Alan Lee’s effort against the woodwork almost gave Huddersfield a late lead and Zander Diamond had to produce a fine challenge on McDermott as the young former Manchester City winger threatened.

But an ambitious volley from Ward was as much as Clark’s men could muster as Athletic clung on for the draw their endeavours merited.