Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between
Huddersfield Town and
Manchester United at the John Smith's Stadium. The Red Devils were criticised by many on the back of last weekend's
goalless draw with Liverpool, but three points today in West Yorkshire will make this their best-ever start to a Prem campaign.
Huddersfield have stuttered since a mini-honeymoon period upon their promotion to the big time, meanwhile, going six games without a win and
losing 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur here in their last home match. Back-to-back defeats leaves them 13th in the table - not bad going for a team heavily backed to go straight back down to the second tier by many prior to a ball being kicked.
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Young; Herrera, Matic; Lingard, Mata, Martial; Lukaku
SUBS: Romero, Blind, Darmian, Lindelof, McTominay, Rashford
Starting with a look at the visiting side, boss
Jose Mourinho has made four changes on the back of the midweek win against Benfica. Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial are all integrated back into the starting fold, taking over from Victor Lindelof, Daley Blind, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and
Marcus Rashford who are all among the subs this afternoon. Rotation was always likely today, which has very much proved to be the case.
There was never any real doubt over who would start up top for the Red Devils, though, even if Romelu Lukaku has gone two games without finding the net - as close as you can get to a scoring drought as far as the Belgian is concerned! Lukaku, who had scored in 12 of his previous 13 games for club and country prior to being shutout by Liverpool and Benfica, is aiming to score against a newly-promoted side today for just the eighth time in 25 attempts.
Having Rashford in reserve is a big boost for Mourinho, meanwhile, as the England international has seemingly shaken off the injury picked up in Lisbon a few days ago. Phil Jones has also recovered from a slight problem of his own to take a starting spot alongside Chris Smalling in the heart of defence - Victor Lindelof being made to wait for that elusive first league start - while Eric Bailly, Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are all absent.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Lossl; Lowe, Schindler, Zanka, Smith; Hogg, Williams; Ince, Mooy, Kachunga; Depoitre
SUBS: Coleman, Malone, Sabiri, Cranie, Van La Parra, Mounie, Hadergjonaj
In terms of the home side,
David Wagner has made a few alterations of his own following last weekend's 2-0 loss at Swansea City. Chris Lowe, Danny Williams and
Aaron Mooy are all handed starting spots, with the latter making his 50th start for the club this afternoon. Mooy has impressed in the top flight since helping the Terriers earn promotion last time out, but he was overlooked for selection against Swansea due to his international commitments with Australia.
Mooy will likely start in an advanced position, just off lone striker
Laurent Depoitre who has netted Town's only goal in their last six matches. Williams will therefore occupy a central-midfield berth alongside Jonathan Hogg, while Lowe - the third and final player to be welcomed back into the fold - takes over from Scott Malone in a like-for-like swap at left-back. Tom Smith starts on the opposite flank, likely up against Anthony Martial.
There was a slight chance that we would see Steve Mounie from the off today though, having only just returned to training after more than a month away injured, he will have to make do with a cameo appearance from the bench at most. Mounie, despite not playing a part since the 2-0 loss to West Ham United on September 11, remains Huddersfield's top scorer thanks to his brace against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend. Philip Billing is the big-name absentee for the hosts.
Jose Mourinho has handed Jesse Lingard his first Premier League start of the season this afternoon in one of four changes from the 1-0 win over Benfica in midweek. The English winger has been used six times from the bench so far, but he will get a chance to impress from the off today up against a Huddersfield Town side themselves showing three alterations.
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Huddersfield started their season in an impressive manner, beating Crystal Palace and Newcastle United on their return to the top tier before then earning a home draw against Southampton. A 2-0 loss away to West Ham United soon after hardly dampened spirits, it is fair to say, while points against Leicester City and Burnley were also welcomed by Wagner to mark a good points return six games into the season.
The Terriers have since gone down 4-0 to Tottenham here and 2-0 to Swansea a the Liberty Stadium, seeing them slide down the division to their current standing of 13th place. It is still a good position for the newly-promoted outfit to find themselves in with two months of the campaign played, but with things being so tight in the bottom half they could well find themselves hovering above the relegation zone should things go wrong over the next 24 hours or so.
Worryingly for Town, they have failed to score in any of their last three games and have just one in six - Depoitre against Leicester - which has made getting top scorer Mounie back to full fitness all the more important. Huddersfield were battered by Tottenham here a few weeks back in their only previous encounter against one of the division's elite sides, finding themselves three goals down with just over a quarter of the match played.
Wagner must now prepare his side for games against Man United, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal in their next six; a tough run of fixtures before the end of November, to say the least. Despite a fairly tame run of games so far, no other side in the division is in worse form than the Terriers right now, collecting just three points from their last six matches, all of which have been draws. The positives are there to see, but things could get a whole lot more difficult for the Yorkshire side.
The slender victory over Newcastle United here in August, secured through a fine Mooy strike, is Huddersfield's sole win in their last 15 top-flight fixtures. Seven of those have ended in defeat and seven in a draw, and it is fair to say that home supporters in attendance today - starved of elite-level football for so long - would be more than happy to add another point to their tally against one of the continent's form sides right now.
Huddersfield have just five goals to their name all season, three of which came against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, to give them the joint-third lowest tally in the division after Bournemouth and the Eagles. Another blank today would give the Terriers their joint-lowest tally to a league campaign after nine games, in fact, putting pressure on the midfield and attacking players to click into gear. Mounie, with two goals to his name, is back among the subs today.
Huddersfield fans were never really concerned about losing Wagner to Leicester, who sacked boss Craig Shakespeare earlier this week, but they would no doubt have been pleased to hear the German categorically rule out taking over at the King Power Stadium. Wagner has worked wonders here in his short time in charge, guiding the Terriers from the lower reaches of the second tier and taking them up via the playoffs in his first full campaign at the helm. No wonder other Premier League sides are interested!
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! This will be the first meeting between these sides since an old Division One clash in 1972, when George Best scored in a 2-0 win for Manchester United. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 10 top-flight games against today's opponents, in fact, winning seven and drawing three of those, with Huddersfield Town's most-recent win coming in March 1972 - a month after Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.
It is far to say that David Wagner has worked wonders at the John Smith's Stadium since taking over in November 2015, taking his side up to the Premier League via the playoffs despite being written off as no-hopers at the start of last season. The fast start made to this campaign was equally as surprising, taking seven points from the first nine on offer, but they have since stuttered and have failed to win any of their last six since August.
Man United head into this game occupying second place in the Premier League table, now two points adrift of leaders Man City following last weekend's results. While the Citizens were putting seven past Stoke City, the Red Devils were reflecting on their bore draw with Liverpool at Anfield a few hours earlier. Even taking that game into account, though, Mourinho's men have made a superb start to the campaign and look good value to collect more silverware next year.
The Red Devils have won 10 and drawn two of their 12 matches since going down 2-1 to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. That most recent league outing, a goalless draw on Merseyside, forced Mourinho into answering many questions regarding his style of play in big away fixtures. The Portuguese rightly pointed out, however, that his side have scored 21 times in the league alone this term, racking up four goals on four separate occasions.
United have become far more ruthless in front of goal against the division's weaker sides - a category that Huddersfield fall into, even if they do currently occupy a place just outside the top half - and have dropped points just twice so far. Stoke held them to a 2-2 draw early last month and Liverpool also claimed a share of the spoils, giving Man City - near-perfect so far in all competitions - an early advantage in what is looking likely to be a two-way title race.
It must be remembered that Man City swotted aside Liverpool earlier this season, however, while also beating Chelsea 1-0 before the international break. For all the talk of a point being a good result at Anfield, the Citizens have taken on two of the big boys and won both, rightly finding themselves at the top of the pile. There is a long, long way to go in the title race, however, and you can guarantee that both City and United will slip-up a fair few times between now and next May.
United earned a 1-0 win in Benfica last time out to keep the feel-good factor alive, all but sealing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League and perhaps giving Mourinho a chance to rotate a little more for the return fixture in a week-and-a-half's time. There is a big few weeks ahead for the Red Devils, as they face Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League after today, while also taking on Swansea in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and Benfica in the Champions League.
For all the talk of attacking play over the past week following that stalemate at Anfield, it is worth pointing out just how good United have been defensively this term - this year, in fact! The Red Devils have shipped just two goals in the Premier League all campaign, both in the 2-2 draw with Stoke City, meaning that they have seven clean sheets to their name in the competition. Throw in a couple of shutouts in the Champions League and it is fair to say that they are among the best defensive sides anywhere on the continent.
DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United, who have 18 clean sheets to their name in the league overall this calendar year, can set a Premier League record with another this afternoon - eight in their first nine fixtures to begin a season. The Red Devils also know that three points today will officially make this their best start to a Prem campaign, while a point is needed to make it 900 on their travels.
With kickoff at the John Smith's Stadium now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
David Wagner: "I think we have shown what we are capable of in this division but, for this, we have to be really at our best - at our best in terms of bravery on the ball and without any easy mistakes. In the last two games we have made too many mistakes before the goals we have conceded, and this is what we have to change."
Jose Mourinho: "We are silly if we don't know what is expected for us, unless it's a new player in the Premier League which we have only Victor Lindelof. Apart from that everybody knows the Premier League and knows what it means to play against newly promoted teams. Every team is good and thinks well, that they can win every match against every opponent."
Wagner admits that his side have been too sloppy in their last two games, seeing them ship four against Tottenham and two to Swansea without reply on both occasion. Huddersfield started very well and can still be pleased with how the first two months have gone, but there is a sense that results are beginning to go south - not ideal when you have Man United, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal to face before the end of November.
Mourinho insists that his side will not be caught out by Huddersfield today, meanwhile, with each of his players having experience of playing newly-promoted sides in the past. The Red Devils have looked very impressive against the division's weaker sides so far, with the draw at Stoke the only blemish, and you would fancy them to get back to winning ways in the league today. All eyes will then be on the result at the Etihad Stadium, where Man City take on Burnley.
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KICKOFF! Huddersfield Town gets us up and running at a packed John Smith's Stadium. The Terriers without a win in six games heading into this one, while Manchester United remain unbeaten in all competitions so far this term.
Mata appears to be starting out wide this afternoon, on the opposite flank to Martial, meaning that Lingard has a central role just off Lukaku on his rare league start. That may well change as things progress and is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Huddersfield happy to let United have the majority of the ball, forming a solid shape that will be very hard to break down. The Red Devils do tend to get the job done these days, though - it is often just a case of how long.
SAVE! A first sight of goal for visiting striker Lukaku, who is played through with the simplest of balls from Matic down the middle. A decent attempt which Jonas Lossl was equal to, collecting the ball at the second attempt.
YELLOW CARDS! A flashpoint here as Martial and Smith come face-to-face following an off-the-ball incident that caught everyone by surprise. Referee Lee Mason took the sensible option by cautioning both and letting play continue.
YELLOW CARD! Christopher Schindler with a mistimed challenge on Lingard down the left, leading to the third caution inside the first 11 minutes or so. Young's delivery is poor, whipping it straight out of play for a goal kick.
A swift counter from the hosts culminates in Ince swinging in a cross for Kachunga to head goalwards, but he was too far out and had too much to do. De Gea was there to comfortably collect, though that was a little warning for the Red Devils.
Martial can perhaps consider himself a little fortunate after a silly challenge out wide, soon after being cautioned - a great battle down United's right. The free kick is dangerous and is helped behind for a Huddersfield corner, which comes to little.
United far from dominating this game, creating just the one opening so far which Lukaku failed to take. A different approach for the hosts compared to against Spurs a few weeks back, as they remain more compact at the back.
Unbelievable piece of skill from Young right on the touchline to get the better of Kachunga, seeing him get in behind the opposition defence. The cross is cleared as far as Herrera, who scuffs his volley well wide of the target.
SHOT! This has been Man United's best spell so far, enjoying a prolonged period on the ball. Young again involved out wide, but Lukaku could only send his acrobatic attempt wide of the right-hand post when it arrived in the box.
United have seen close to 70% of the ball in the opening quarter of the match. It has been a fairly balanced contest on the whole at the John Smith's Stadium, though there is no doubt that the Red Devils are growing stronger by the minute.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! A blow for the Red Devils as Phil Jones, a key member of the best backline in the division, hobbles off injured to be replaced by Lindelof. Mourinho's injury list has just got a bit longer!
Lindelof has barely featured in the Premier League this term, though he did well enough against Benfica in midweek and will be ready for this test. Jones had played every previous minute of the Red Devils' campaign prior to hobbling down the tunnel.
A third of the match played and United have so far been unable to create too much. Lukaku fired a shot straight at Lossl early on and then sent an acrobatic attempt wide of the target 21 minutes in. Home boss Wagner will be fairly happy.
GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (AARON MOOY)
How about this! Huddersfield lead United through a Mooy strike - their first goal in 10 hours and eight minutes of play, against a side that had previous conceded just twice all season. Mata, yet to get involved in the game, was caught in possession and the hosts countered. Ince was played in by Mooy but then denied by De Gea, but there was the ex-Man City man to tuck away the rebound.
Matic has a shot blocked from the edge of the box and Lossl was then there to collect the corner. A real party atmosphere inside the John Smith's Stadium at the moment - those in attendance can sense a famous result for the Terriers.
GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (LAURENT DEPOITRE)
Huddersfield get themselves a second goal of the afternoon, once again via a United error. Mata was at fault for the first but this was an even worse mistake, as Lindelof failed to get his head to a high ball over the top, allowing Depoitre to round De Gea and roll the ball home.
PENALTY SHOUT! United have an appeal for a penalty turned down following Kachunga's challenge on Herrera. Referee Lee Mason waved play on, adjudging that there was not enough in it. Replays suggest that the official got it wrong.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUB! Kachunga has looked shaky at the back so far this afternoon, particularly when barging into Herrera inside the box. His afternoon has been cut short by what appears to be a back injury, with Van La Parra on in his place.
Three shots on target for Huddersfield so far in this first half, two of which ended with the ball in the back of the net. They had managed just four in their last three combined heading into this one - what a turn up for the books this is looking to be!
United are still struggling to create anything of note in front of goal. Huddersfield, despite seeing just a quarter of the ball so far, are on course to take a two-goal advantage into the break thanks to strikes from Mooy and Depoitre.
Mourinho has already been forced into one change but he will surely make a second at the interval - it is just not happening for his side at the moment. A couple of individual errors and his men now have it all to do in the second half.
Delightful cross into the box from Mooy, which Valencia was all alone clear in a central position. From the next attack, Valencia was then there to intercept the ball after Matic initially gave the ball away. Two minutes of added time to come.
HALF TIME: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
A bit of a scramble in the Huddersfield box at the end of the first half, but the Terriers were able to hold on for a two-goal lead at the interval. Matic's shot ended inches wide of the target from the final meaningful act of the opening 45 minutes, which a frustrated Mourinho - already back in the dressing room - was not around to see.
In the first meeting between the two sides since 1972, United started on top and created an early opening for Romelu Lukaku which was blasted straight at Jonas Lossl in the Town goal. Huddersfield, defeated 4-0 by Tottenham Hotspur here in their last home outing, were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure in a change of ploy from that recent loss.
There was a brief flashpoint 10 minutes in when Tommy Smith and Anthony Martial came face-to-face following an off-the-ball incident, leading to referee Lee Mason showing a yellow card to both. Just when United were starting to grow more into the game, seeing Lukaku send an overhead kick narrowly wide of the target, Huddersfield struck for the first of their two first-half goals.
Without the injured Phil Jones, who hobbled down the tunnel five minutes earlier, Aaron Mooy capitalised on some slack play from Juan Mata to play in Tom Ince. The former Derby County winger had his shot well saved by David de Gea but Mooy was there to tuck home the rebound, becoming just the second different player to net against the Red Devils this term and ending his side's 10-hour wait for a goal in the process. The second goal also came from an individual mistake as Victor Lindelof, the man brought on to replace Jones in the heart of defence, failed to get his head to a high ball over the top and Laurent Depoitre was gifted the chance to round De Gea and tuck home.
United continued to see more of the ball in the remainder of the first half and perhaps should have hate a route back into the match, only for Mason to wave away strong appeals for a penalty when Elias Kachunga barged into Ander Herrera. Plenty for Mourinho to ponder at the midway point, then, but will he make a second change of the afternoon? We will soon find out...
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUBS: Coleman, Malone, Sabiri, Cranie, Mounie, Hadergjonaj
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Blind, Darmian, McTominay, Rashford
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RESTART! Mourinho, who has never won a Premier League match when two down at the break, makes a double substitution. Mkhitaryan and Rashford replace Martial and Mata, meaning that the visitors have now made all three changes.
Difficult to work out what formation Mourinho has gone with, but Rashford appears to be up top alongside Lukaku, while Herrera is very deep - possibly in a back three. All-out attack for the visitors now, as they ideally need three goals.
One goal for the visitors will certainly change the mood around the John Smith's Stadium. At the moment there is nothing for home supporters to feel nervous about as their team are fairly comfortable, sitting as they are on a two-goal advantage.
A fairly bright start to the second half by the Terriers, who nearly get in behind. Wagner's men have certainly been efficient, taking both of their chances when they arrived in the first half. United have had one shot on target, meanwhile.
United's first effort of the second half comes via the boot of Ashley Young, who sends the ball flying wide. The versatile wideman has probably been the visitors' best player so far this afternoon, with the Red Devils' key players failing to turn up.
More than 10 minutes of the second half now played and there is still no sign of a United response. Young saw his sliced attempt fly wide but, that aside, the visitors have not really done a great deal when on the ball in the final third.
A positive attacking move from United, as they probe away on the edge of the opposition box, but Rashford rather comically sent his cross straight out of play when fed down the left-hand side. A real shocker, summing up the Red Devils' afternoon thus far.
YELLOW CARD! Herrera is flagged for offside, which looked to be the wrong call. Not that it mattered in the end, though, as he flicked the free-kick delivery over the bar from close range. Young is booked for bringing down Van La Parra on the break.
Small shout for a Huddersfield penalty after a shot from 15 yards out hit a sea of bodies in front of goal. United continuing to dominate possession but it is arguably the home side who have looked more dangerous when getting bodies forward.
Real frustration for United as Mkhitaryan is standing a good yard offside when slipped in, ending what had been a positive attack. Real contrast in display for Town compared to against Tottenham not so long ago when shipping four goals.
Huddersfield looking the more likely to score a third at the moment, as Depoitre is picked out seven yards from goal but cannot quite turn and get a shot away. Fair to say that Mourinho would take a point if offered to him right now.
YELLOW CARD! Mooy, a tad lucky to avoid being shown a yellow in the first half, does not enter the referee's book for a sliding challenge on Valencia. Good refereeing, as Lee Mason let play flow for a couple of minutes before reaching into his pocket.
Less than a quarter of the game left to play at the John Smith's Stadium and United still with just that one attempt on target. The Red Devils with nearly 80% of possession, which will suit Huddersfield just fine as they are thriving on the counter.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUB! A welcome return to action for striker Steve Mounie, who has been absent for the last month. Depoitre, very good up top this afternoon, is the man to make way, taking a lifetime to exit the field in the process.
Arguably United's best attacking move of the half, if not all afternoon, as Rashford slots the ball through for Lukaku following some slick interplay. A little too much on it in the end, however, and Lossl collected before Lukaku could get a touch.
SAVE! Just a second save of the afternoon for Lossl to make, as he shows quick reaction skills to deny Herrera. The Spaniard flicked Young's cross towards goal, but he was unable to find a way through as United push for a response.
GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (MARCUS RASHFORD)
United give themselves some hope thanks to Rashford's close-range header, finding a way through with just their third on-target attempt of the contest. Lukaku crossed the ball from wide on the right and Rashford got in-between his markers to nod past Lossl.
YELLOW CARD! Danny Williams is the latest player to see yellow for a strong challenge on Lingard just inside his own half. Huddersfield with some work to do in the final 10 minutes if they are to claim what would be a famous result.
Huddersfield not looking quite so solid at the back all of a sudden, as the pressure slowly starts to tell. These remaining seven minutes, plus a few added on at the end, will no doubt feel like a lifetime for those home supporters.
The ball bobbles around inside the Huddersfield box following a corner, but Mounie was there to clear away. Town defending for their lives now, though there is plenty of space for them to break into if they wish to gamble.
A real hearts in mouths moment as Lossl failed to grab the ball under pressure from Lukaku, but the Belgian was penalised by referee Lee Mason. A chance for the hosts to breathe, as we head into the final three minutes of normal time here.
Seemingly every home supporter up on their feet now, including the club chairman, to urge their players over the line. Huddersfield have actually had the better of the last two minutes, with De Gea rushing out and not winning the ball, but his defenders helped him out.
Huddersfield still standing strong at the back, with that killer chance not falling United's way. Nearly half of their goals so far this season have arrived in the final 10 minutes, but time is fast ticking down in West Yorkshire.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUB! Scott Malone, a flying full-back by trade, comes on for Tom Ince and is tasked with sitting in front of the back four for these closing seconds. Can Huddersfield hold on for one of the most famous results in their history?
FULL TIME: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
Unbelievable scenes at the John Smith's Stadium, as referee Lee Mason blows for full time. Huddersfield Town, without a win in this fixture since 1952, see out the closing stages for a famous 2-1 victory. They have Zanka to thank for that, as he produced a huge block to deny Smalling in the final seconds of added time.
That concludes
Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in West Yorkshire on this famous afternoon for Huddersfield. An on-the-whistle report can be found by
clicking here, while a recap of all the other scores from up and down the divisions can be
viewed here. Thanks for joining!