OVER THE MOUNIE!
Steve smashes debut double as Terriers terrorise De Boer
STEVE MOUNIE scored twice as Huddersfield ripped apart the form book and the reputation of Palace boss Frank de Boer.
Huddersfield’s £11.5million record summer signing from Montpellier was unstoppable and the Benin striker deserved all the plaudits because this was a shock in any language.
The promoted Terriers have been installed as one of the favourites to be relegated but they made the Eagles look like also-rans and De Boer has a mountain to climb to restore confidence.
Only four promoted sides have won on the opening day in the Premier League but all, like Huddersfield, had gone up through the play-offs – Hull in 2008 and 2016, Blackpool in 2010 and West Ham in 2012.
Huddersfield might still travel a painful path but yesterday they ruthlessly destroyed Dutch golden boy De Boer’s side.
He arrived as the Eagles’ fifth boss in five years and hopefully to be their new saviour after a glittering career as both a player and manager.
Now he knows the score. Palace, apart from Wilfried Zaha, are just not that good and if he does not tighten his defence and introduce more creative midfield players then De Boer might not last the season.
Managers who wear white trousers and white shoes do put themselves up for scrutiny and the Dutchman is under the spotlight from day one.
He was expected to be the man to finally steer Palace up the table but Huddersfield seemed to want victory more.
They had players in key positions who stood their ground, fought hard and always offered hope. They continually blunted Palace attacks with quality and that old thing something seemingly missing in modern football – grit.
Palace brought on Andros Townsend at the break and continued to rely on Zaha. He is a talent but often had to battle alone.
Town’s last top-flight win was a distant memory, going back to days of black and white when they beat Brian Clough’s Derby in 1971.
Sadly it began a trail of pain and they went 22 games without another one after that.
To their credit Town were not intimidated arriving in a land where money talks and those who cannot compete simply fall by the wayside.
Huddersfield scored twice in two minutes to continue a crazy start to the Premier League season.
They were supposed to be cannon fodder and relegation favourites and still could be but yesterday they showed surprising quality.
The first goal came in the 24th minute when Aussie playmaker Aaron Mooy whipped in a corner and Chris Schindler flicked on for Mathias Jorgensen. However, it was Palace’s Joel Ward who turned into his own net.
The Terriers went further into dreamland when Mooy belted over another cross from the left and Mounie, almost alone, rose to powerfully head the second.
Zaha came within a whisker of pulling a goal back for Palace in the 40th minute, his shot squirting across Huddersfield’s goal, but Palace’s three newcomers – Tim Fosu-Mensah, Ruben Loftus-Creek and Jairo Riedewald – were like onlookers, wondering what they have joined.
Huddersfield, by luck and determination, hacked away all the Eagles could offer in the second half and should have added another in the 63rd minute when Mounie broke clear but was denied by Fosu-Mensah’s superb tackle when he had only Wayne Hennessey to beat.
Mounie was not going to be denied, though, and he added Huddersfield’s third in the 78th minute when he seized on substitute Collin Quaner’s pass to steer home.
After it was pointed out that Huddersfield are top of the table, boss David Wagner said: “Don’t laugh! We are a job in progress.”
His side were tipped to struggle even in the Championship last season yet they surprised everyone by winning promotion to the Premier League.
Now Wagner believes there are more shocks in store after their sensational start.
The German added: “For the moment we are top of the league. I am happy and I can’t complain after 45 years we have won a game at the top level.
“We were under pressure. We had to make it uncomfortable for Palace. We did exactly what we did last season by showing commitment.
“Now I cannot wait for another moment in history by playing our first Premier League game at home against Newcastle, who I will watch very closely on TV.
“We are still away from our best but we are progressing. We should not look too far ahead. Just work hard and make life uncomfortable for others, like we did against Palace.”
De Boer said: “You can say that was a harsh introduction to the Premier League, a big blow to everyone. Nobody expected it. It was a harsh lesson for us all.”