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Huddersfield Town's festive period continued to be a dull one as The Terriers threw away a two goal lead to draw with Carlisle United at Brunton Park.
One point from a possible nine in the three games in space of a week has seen Town drop to 6th in npower League One with teams around them having more games in hand over the Terriers.

Town boss Lee Clark ran the changes after a dismal 4-1 defeat at the hands of Southampton four days earlier. Kevin Kilbane has been brought in on loan for the rest of the season from Championship side Hull City and went straight into the starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation which included a rare start for defender Nathan Clarke. Nathan's brother Tom was in the three man midfield along side Kilbane and Joey Gudjonsson, young left-back Liam Ridehalgh was preferred instead of Graham Carey who was dropped to the bench and Benik Afobe spearheaded the Town attack alongside Alan Lee and Lee Novak. Top-scorer Jordan Rhodes was again on the bench along with Gary Roberts and Anthony Pilkington.

Former Town midfielder James Berrett, who has been ever-present this season for Carlisle, was in the thick of it as early as the 4th minute when his free-kick 30 yards from goal found striker Gary Madine who headed wide.

Minutes later Adam Collin came to Carlisle's rescue when the goalkeeper did well to keep Tom Clarke's low drive out, the rebound fell to Gudjonsson who hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Town got their noses in front with 23 minutes played thanks to the skipper Peter Clarke. Gudjonsson's free-kick was not dealt with by the Carlisle defender and when Novak knocked the ball back into the area, Peter Clarke controlled the ball and lashed the ball past Collin.

Carlisle's on-loan midfielder Ben Marshall nearly put the Cumbrians back on level terms on the half hour mark. The on-loan Stoke midfield skipped past Kilbane and Ridehalgh before rifling a shot that hit the post.

After the break Novak had an effort block by Paul Thirwell and Collin was alert to deny Novak again after good work from Alan Lee. Gudjonsson's corner was not cleared and Nathan Clarke's shot hit the bar.
Lee Clark brought on Scott Arfield for Alan Lee just before the hour mark to change to a diamond in midfield and it paid off as the Scottish midfielder but Town into a two-goal lead minutes after coming on.

Ridhalgh's cross from the left was nearly laid back by Novak to the on-rushing Arfield who lashed a shot past Collin in the Carlisle goal.

On 72 minutes Carlisle sub Francois Zoko gave Carlisle a lifeline. Ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Franck Simek's cross from the right was flicked on to the unmarked Zoko who easily dispatched past Alex Smithies.

James Berrett nearly got the equalizer but was denied by Smithies after Zoko's cross found the head of the former Town midfielder but it was Berrett's corner that lead to Carlisle getting back on level terms.
In the 83rd minute Berrett's corner found James Chester who rose highest to plant a bullet header into the Town goal.

In the last minute of the 90 Arfield blasted over after good work from sub Jordan Rhodes and Novak but Town were made to travel back to West Yorkshire with a point after squandering a two goal lead.

Next up for Town is the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday live on Sky TV for an early kick-off (12.15pm) and after picking up one point from a possible nine, this is must-win game if we are to keep our promotion chase on the right track against a fellow team also gunning from promotion.

Teams:

Carlisle: Collin, Simek, Robson, Chester, Michalik, Taiwo, Berrett, Marshall, Grella, Curran, Madine.
Subs: Caig, Murphy, Hurst, Thirlwell, Zoko, Bowman, Cruise.

Town: Smithies, Peltier, P Clarke, N Clarke, Ridehalgh, Kilbane, T Clarke, Gudjonsson, Afobe (Rhodes 74), Lee (Arfield 58), Novak.
Subs not used: Bennett, Roberts, Pilkington, Atkinson, Carey.

Attendance: 5904