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Wells strikes twice

Photograph courtesy of &htafcdotcomAt the double: Wells is interviewed after his man-of-the-match performance

Nahki Wells struck two second-half goals in a man-of-the-match display on his return to the Huddersfield Town starting line-up on Saturday.

Wells, who had been among the substitutes for the previous three games, scored a penalty in the 70th minute before adding a second in the 82nd to earn his side a point away to Ipswich Town in the Sky Bet Championship.

Chris Powell, the Huddersfield manager, heaped praise upon the striker who he partnered up front alongside Grant Holt, reverting from 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 formation.

“If you manage players in the right way, I think they will respond,” Powell said.

“Nahki did that today. He’s a big player for us. We definitely deserved the equaliser, but I felt we warranted all three.”

With Huddersfield trailing two nil after goals from Tommy Smith in the 21st and Christophe Berra in the 55th, it looked as though Powell’s decision to change tactics was in danger of backfiring, especially when Wells missed a glorious chance to pull a goal back.

Having beaten the offside trap, Wells had his initial shot saved by Dean Gerken, the Ipswich goalkeeper, before somehow blazing over the bar from close range.

Wells made amends for that miss, converting from the spot after Holt, on loan from Wigan Athletic, had been pushed over in the area by Luke Chambers.

The club’s £1.3 million record signing completed the comeback after latching on to Sean Scannell’s cross at the back post to power a header past Gerken.

Wells could have won the game for Huddersfield late on when he was played through by Harry Bunn, the Huddersfield winger, but he blasted his shot over the bar.

“This result keeps the momentum going and our confidence high going into next weekend,” Powell added.

“I’m very pleased with the performance. I thought we passed the ball very well and fashioned some really good chances.

“At half-time I reminded the players we had created some really good chances. Even at 2-0 down, the players carried on.”

Huddersfield, who dropped a place in the table to seventeenth, have taken 12 points from a possible 18.