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Manchester City stroll past hopeless Huddersfield to keep pace at the top

Manchester City had far too much for Huddersfield despite being some way off their best - REUTERS
Manchester City had far too much for Huddersfield despite being some way off their best - REUTERS

The chase continues. Never mind that this was hardly Manchester City at their best, a routine victory over Huddersfield moves Pep Guardiola’s team back to within four points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. More to the point, another three strikes were added to their bold attempt to break every known goalscoring record.

For Huddersfield the consequence was very different. This was a defeat that leaves them ten points adrift of safety, in danger of a permanent crick in the neck with the effort of looking forever upwards. It was a dire defeat, ripe with evidence of the Premier League’s unbreachable quality gap, which provided a fitting full stop to a week which had begun miserably with the departure of David Wagner. It was somehow in keeping with unhappy circumstance that an intended message from the outgoing manager recorded to thank the fans failed to be broadcast before the game, after succumbing to a technical glitch.

For Mark Hudson, the man who stepped in to hold the fort after Wagner’s departure, there was to be no Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effect. With the Borussia Dortmund coach Jan Siewert set to be appointed later this week, this is likely to be Hudson’s sole match in charge.

But he will have had long enough, pacing the technical area throughout the game, to have seen at close hand the reasons why Wagner felt he could do no more. For all the wonders the German may have delivered in his three and a half years in Yorkshire, he has left Huddersfield with a squad so bereft of quality there is only one direction they are heading. Too many anonymous journeymen delivering too little meaningful application is no recipe for escape. The crowd’s ironic chorus of oles for every successful pass in the game’s dying moments a clear indication of a need to take pleasure where they can.

Not that City were at their scintillating best here. But then they didn’t need to be. For the first ten minutes they seemed oddly reticent, unable to find the right pass to unlock Huddersfield’s determined, if limited, defence. True, Raheem Sterling was furious he wasn’t awarded a penalty after Terence Kongolo brought him down after 12 minutes. And he had a point. Quite how Andre Marriner missed what was clearly a trip by the Huddersfield defender will remain one of the mysteries of the season.

Leroy Sane of Manchester City scores his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester Cit - Credit: Getty Images
Leroy Sane scores Manchester City's third goal Credit: Getty Images

Sterling didn’t have long to brood on injustice, however. Five minutes later, Danilo whipped a speculative cross shot into the Huddersfield box. For some reason Christopher Schindler decided to bow in front of it, as if in supplication, succeeding only in deflecting the ball off the top of his head beyond Jonas Lossl. It was City’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions. Perhaps more pertinently it was the 21st goal recorded since they last conceded.

But if it looked ominously as if the flood gates had just been hospitably held open for the City attack to inflict Burton-like damage on the Huddersfield goals against column, the visitors seemed unwilling to exploit their obvious superiority. Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, even the previously unimpeachable Kevin De Bruyne were wasteful in possession, pedestrian in their build up. For much of the opening exchanges there was a very uncharacteristic lack of precision about City’s efforts: crosses were too long, through balls rolled too far, passes went astray.

Not for the first time they could be grateful that Fernandinho did not succumb to the general malaise. Apparently operating in his own forcefield, untroubled, unhurried, everything he did was clean and neat. Even his fouls had a brusque efficiency. A classic on Elias Kachunga, steering him at pace into the City dug out, where he fell at Guardiola’s feet, earned the Brazilian a yellow card.  Fernandinho apart, so lethargic were City, Guardiola was clearly obliged to read the riot act at half time.

“Yeah we adjust some things when we had the ball,” was the City manager’s euphemistic analysis. “Without the ball we didn’t suffer too much. We adjust to attack more fluently inside and outside.”

They did that all right. Within minutes of the restart Sterling suddenly came to life, scuttling across the Huddersfield area before working the ball back to De Bruyne. The Belgian fed Sane, who despite appearing to be offside, crossed. His ball found Sterling, confusing the home defence by materialising on the other side of the penalty area, to steer an impudent diving header past Lossl.

Moments later there was another example of City’s clinical core. Jason Puncheon, making his first Huddersfield appearance on loan from Crystal Palace, misplaced a pass which landed at the feet of Danilo. Before the home side could blink, he fired a long ball on to Sergio Aguero’s forehead. His deft layoff into Sane’s path was perfection. The German did not have to break stride as he ran on, feinted, left Lossl on his haunches and slipped the ball into the net.

For Huddersfield there was no way back, even when Fernandinho was removed to protect against another yellow card. Their hapless condition was summed up when, with the last shot of the game, the substitute Steve Mounie missed from a yard out. For them life after Wagner looks chastening indeed.

3:24PM

Full time

Steve Mounie fluffs a golden chance to get a consolation with the last kick of the game, but this match comes to an end with City comfortable winners.

3:20PM

90 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Three minutes added on.

3:15PM

87 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Bernardo Silva is put in on goal but he takes it on his weaker right foot and strikes straight at Lossl.

3:14PM

86 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

The home fans now 'ole-ing' every pass their side makes and booing their opponents'... End this now.

3:11PM

82 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Pritchard finds Mounie with a good cross but his header doesn't have enough power behind it to trouble Ederson.

3:08PM

80 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Delph replaces Gundogan for City. Again no minutes for Phil Foden.

3:08PM

79 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Huddersfield's best moment of the match! Mounie collects a pass out on the left flank and gets his head down as he runs at Walker. He drops a shoulder and cuts onto his right foot, before bending a curling effort at the top right corner. Ederson looks beaten... but it flies wide of the post.

3:07PM

77 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Huddersfield launch ball after ball into the City box but are having no luck whatsoever.

2:58PM

70 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

City break in numbers but they are just so assured of this win that they slowwww things down and retain possession. Not entirely sure there is any point playing this final 20 minutes.

2:55PM

66 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

One player who has not been at the races today - his assist for Same's goal aside - is Sergio Aguero. With Gabriel Jesus in such fine form, is there a chance he may lose his position as first choice*?

*he'll now score a 24-minute hat-trick.

2:53PM

64 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

This has become a bit of a training ground routine for City now.

Bacuna is replaced by Alex Pritchard for Huddersfield. 

2:47PM

59 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Fernandinho - on a booking - comes off to be replaced by David Silva. Steve Mounie comes on up front for the hosts, replacing Diakhaby.

2:47PM

58 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 3

Danilo dinks a cross into the middle and De Bruyne heads over. City are raising their game.

2:46PM

GOOOOOOAAL!!! Huddersfield 0 Man City 3 (Sane)

Game well and truly over. Danilo cuts out a pass on halfway and plays a first-time ball high towards Aguero up front. He spots the run of Sane infield and nods into the German's path. Sane then takes a touch to control and passes a cool finish into the corner of the net. Lovely goal.

2:44PM

GOOOOOOAAL!!!  Huddersfield 0 Man City 2 (Sterling)

A header from Sterling! He's been getting booed all game so it's great to see him silence the home crowd.

De Bruyne slips a pass in to Sane on the left side of the box (he is half a yard offside but the linesman misses it), and Sane crosses for sterling to stoop and head home at the back post.

Sane offside
Sane (bottom) is just offside

2:39PM

50 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Fernandinho is the latest player to go into the book after takes down Bacuna as Huddersfield try to launch a counter.

2:37PM

48 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

There is certainly an increased tempo to City's play at the start of this half and they start it on the front foot. Lots of possession, no sight of goal just yet though.

2:34PM

The second half begins...

No changes in personnel for either team.. but will we see an improvement in City's performance?

2:19PM

Half time - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

That was predictably easy for Manchester City but Pep Guardiola will be far from happy with the performance. They have been miles off their best, with their passing too slow and their pressing lacking its usual intensity. 

Huddersfield are a really poor side and probably won't get anything from this game, but they could still be disappointed to be behind given the goal they conceded was highly avoidable. 

Expect a much more fired up City to appear after the break.

2:16PM

45 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Three minutes added on at the end of the half. Sterling is being booed, seemingly for being fouled by Kongolo and going down in the box earlier on. Absolutely ludicrous.

2:14PM

43 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Jonathan Hogg goes in the book after catching Fernandinho late in midfield.

Pep Guardiola looks very, very unimpressed with this performance from his team.

Pep Guaridola looks on  - Credit: Getty images
City haven't been at their best today Credit: Getty images

2:12PM

42 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

The best hope for Huddersfield has got to be down their left - where Walker is on a yellow and Kachunga is one of their most able attackers. Walker wins the race this time but Mark Hudson must think there is hope down that side.

2:11PM

40 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Fernandinho dinks a lovely pass over the top of the Huddersfield defence and Gundogan has ghosted in from deep. He takes it down beautifully and spins to shoot, but it is deflected behind. That would have been a brilliant goal.

2:09PM

38 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

There is a light lack of fluency to this City performance, and we'll probably see David Silva at some point this afternoon as a result. City have the second leg against Burton on Wednesday so not got much to rest players for.

2:07PM

Why are Aguero's socks a completely different colour to the rest of his team?

From left, Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi cheer prior to the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City  - Credit: AP
Credit: AP

2:05PM

34 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Huddersfield are sitting back so, so near their own goal, knowing that if they so much as think about pressing they will get picked off.. but there will come a time in this game when the plan will have to change.

2:00PM

30 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Kachunga gets to the byline and drills low across goal for Bacuna, who has committed to this ball and catches Laporte long after the ball has been cleared, earning himself a yellow card.

1:59PM

27 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Huddersfield win a free-kick right-of-centre 35 yards from goal which City deal with really unconvincingly. They eventually scramble it out to the other flank and it's a foot race to the ball between Lowe and Walker. Walker lunges in wildly and Lowe beats him to it, so Walker gets a yellow for his trouble.

The next free-kick is cleared and humped back into the box straight away. Huddersfield have players unmarked, and it is touched down for Kongolo to line one up. He volleys at goal from the edge of the box but it is straight at Ederson. Better from the hosts.

1:53PM

Stat time

  • City have now scored 21 goals in all competitions since they last conceded.

  • City are the first team in the top five European leagues to score 100 goals in all competitions this season.

1:52PM

22 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1 

Fernandinho heads wide from a corner when he probably should have done better.

1:51PM

21 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 1

Huddersfield have responded well enough but can't get anything like a clear sight of the City goal.

1:49PM

GOOOOOAAAL!!!! Huddersfield 0 Man City 1 (Danilo)

City pass the ball about outside the Huddersfield box under little pressure, and Danilo is left in acres of space. He takes one touch out of his feet and lines up a shot from 25 yards... Schindler stoops to try and block it but he takes his eye off it and can only get enough on it to deflect the shot away from Lossl in goal and it flies into an empty net for City's 100th goal of the season in all comps... [A reminder that we are in JANUARY.] Game over?

1:45PM

13 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 0 

How on earth is that not a penalty!??? De Bruyne slips Sterling in on goal in an inside-right position - through a huge gap between left-back and centre-back. Sterling has got the wrong side of Kongolo and lines up a shot. The defender dives in and completely takes Sterling down without getting anywhere near the ball... but referee Andre Marriner says no pen! Raheem cannot believe it, and neither can I! That's an awful decision!

1:41PM

'Always a Terrier'

Huddersfield fans display a banner reading 'David Wagner Always A Terrier' before the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at the John Smith's Stadium  - Credit: Getty images
He may have departed the club but Huddersfield remain grateful to David Wagner for the work he did Credit: Getty images

1:39PM

8 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 0

A chance for Huddfersfield! They work it out wide to Kachunga on the right, and his drilled cross comes at Diakhaby too quickly. He stoops to head but can't turn it goalwards.

1:36PM

6 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 0

A predictable pattern of play emerges early on. It's all City and Huddersfield have barely strung two passes together. I'm actually pretty sure they haven't put two passes together without losing possession...

1:33PM

3 mins - Huddersfield 0 Man City 0

A first glimpse of goal for City as Aguero gets into a decent position inside the box but the chance is snuffed out.

1:32PM

1 min - Huddersfield 0 Man City 0

A first roar of the day as Mbenza steals the ball and runs at the City defence. He goes down far too easily under a challenge from Laporte and the attack breaks down.

1:30PM

Aaaaand we're off

Huddersfield get the game under way.

1:29PM

The players are out

It's a very chilly day in Yorkshire but the sun is out. Let's see what Mark Hudson cam do for Huddersfield against the champions.

1:23PM

Pep Guardiola talks

Kevin [De Bruyne] has been training and played in other competitions, we know the quality that he has so he is ready. Everyone is going to play, we have a lot of competitions to play in.

It's the same up front. Everybody has to play. Sergio and Gabriel will both be needed with games every three days.

Is it difficult playing after Liverpool? It is what it is. We have to play our game and try to win. We can't focus on anyone else.

Pep Guardiola on the bench at Huddersfield - Credit: Getty images
Has a football manager ever felt the cold as much as Pep Guardiola? Credit: Getty images

 

1:19PM

What this game means

Mark Hudson this week rubbished Sam Allardyce's claims that Huddersfield are already down, but teams just do not recover from the kind of position they are in. They are 10 points adrift of safety after 22 games and even a win today is unlikely to change fate's course.

For City, meanwhile, anything other than a win will probably leave Liverpool too far ahead in the title race. They slipped up against Crystal Palace and Leicester over Christmas period, and won't want to make another mistake today.

1:04PM

What chance for Huddersfield today?

In the Premier League this season...

Man City:

Goals scored - 56, goals conceded - 17;

Huddersfield:

Goals scored - 13, goals conceded - 37.

Not much hope, I'd say.

12:41PM

Mark Hudson's thoughts

The Huddersfield caretaker manager might only ever take charge of one Premier League game. Here's what he has to say:

It was important to mix things up [in terms of team selection] for this game. We need to try and pose a threat. I've picked a team that I think can do that. 

I've tried to freshen things up in training by changing the content, giving the players decisions to make.

I've told the players what I want to see. today We don't want Manchester City to enjoy it. I'll enjoy the game regardless.

12:35PM

TEAM NEWS... and it looks ominous for Huddersfield

 Caretaker manager Mark Hudson is trying to make his mark: he has made six changes for Huddersfield.

Sergio Aguero returns for City, while Kevin De Bruyne starts his first league game since Boxing Day. Sterling and Sane on the wings. Danilo plays at left-back.

12:29PM

Contrasting fortunes...

There couldn't really be a worse game for Mark Hudson to audition for the vacant position as Huddersfield manager... The form club captain who is in charge of the under-23 side has been brought in as caretaker while the club's hierarchy decide on a replacement for David Wagner, who left by mutual consent earlier this week with the club bottom of the Premier League and in real trouble.

Many have already consigned them to relegation, so Hudson arguably has a free hit today against free-scoring City, but he also won't be too keen on having to find a way to stop a side that hit Huddersfield for six back in August.

City have to win to keep pace with Liverpool at the top of the table - three points would reduce the gap to four with 15 games to play - so there is huge motivation for them here.

I can't even see the biggest new manager bounce of all time saving Huddersfield today... City will score a fair few here. It could be a long afternoon for the home side.