Huddersfield should have spoiled party

AFTER doing their level best to dampen the party mood around the Etihad, Huddersfield left Manchester City to their celebrations. Their turn will come if Premier League survival can be secured over the course of the next week and two daunting fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal. A point was huge for Huddersfield here — and they deserved it too, becoming only the second team to shut out Pep Guardiola’s rampant champions in the league this season. David Wagner put it right up there with the momentous home win over Manchester United at the John Smith’s Stadium in October. ‘Everyone who supports Huddersfield Town knows that the impossible is possible,’ said the manager. ‘This looked impossible before kick-off, but the players have done it.’ Huddersfield defended in depth and clung on for dear life. They chased every ball, hounded their opponents and wasted as much time as possible. Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy, brought to England from Australia by City two years ago, was excellent at both ends of the pitch. Wagner’s side had their chances too. Florent Hadergjonaj should have done better from Alex Pritchard’s free-kick in the first half, and Pritchard forced an excellent save from Ederson. In the dying seconds, Scott Malone and Laurent Depoitre found themselves in the penalty box with a chance to win it. ‘We don’t like to be too greedy but it was possible to win the game at the end, that is the truth,’ added Wagner. Huddersfield could slip to fourth from bottom after Swansea meet Southampton tomorrow. But survival is in their hands as they prepare to go to Chelsea on Wednesday before taking on Arsenal at home in Arsene Wenger’s farewell game. It could be a memorable occasion all round.