STAT ATTACK
JOSE MOURINHO has still never won a Premier League game as a manager when his side has been two goals behind. That is now 19 games in total, with one draw and 18 defeats.
STORM BRIAN blew in – but Manchester United’s biggest problem was Hurricane Huddersfield.
The Terriers stunned United with a ferocious performance on a rain and wind-lashed day in West Yorkshire.
United had conceded only two goals in the Premier League this season before arriving at the John Smith’s Stadium.
But Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre doubled that number by the 34th minute as United’s mean machine finally broke down.
The Red Devils eventually pulled back a goal 12 minutes from time through substitute Marcus Rashford.
But it was not enough to prevent their first defeat of the season in what turned out to be their unlucky
13th match.
United had won 10 of those matches – and kept nine clean sheets.
But that impressive run came to an end in stunning, unexpected style against a tenacious Huddersfield side who had gone seven matches a win before yesterday.
And in the last four of those games they had failed to score.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner said: “For sure, this is one of the top three days I have had personally as manager of this club.
“I am very proud. For Huddersfield Town to beat Manchester United is a huge win for us.
“It’s important though that we stay humble.
“Manchester United were not at their best.
“I couldn’t expect this result – but I could hope.
“I wanted us to play with spirit and attitude and make life uncomfortable for them.
“We did that for 60 minutes, then they put us under a lot of pressure.”
This was United’s first match at this stadium and the first game between the clubs since the
1971-72 season.
That gives an idea of the gulf there has been between the clubs since Huddersfield were last in the top flight.
But the teams had something in common at the start – full-blooded commitment.
That was illustrated by three yellow cards in the opening 10 minutes.
Anthony Martial was upset by a challenge by Terriers captain Tommy Smith.
The France forward took retribution off the ball with a sly kick at the Town right-back.
Almost immediately, they squared up and both were cautioned, to be followed into referee Lee Mason’s notebook by Huddersfield defender Christopher Schindler for chopping down United’s England midfielder Jesse Lingard.
But later United’s commitment was to be called into question.
Most of their early threat came from Romelu Lukaku.
The big Belgian had a shot saved from Nemanja Matic’s pass.
Then he swept the ball wide on the volley following Ashley Young’s cross.
United then lost centre-back Phil Jones through what looked like a hip or thigh injury in the 24th minute.
And things got worse for Jose Mourinho’s side when Huddersfield took the lead four minutes later.
Mooy beat Juan Mata to the ball in midfield and broke clear, before finding Tom Ince.
He turned Victor Lindelof before seeing his shot beaten out by keeper David de Gea.
The ball, though, travelled to Mooy, who crashed home a left-footed drive.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 when substitute Lindelof – who had replaced Jones – made a mess of his attempt to head the ball.
It broke to Depoitre, who took the ball around De Gea before firing home to send the John Smith’s Stadium wild.
United boss Mourinho reacted at half-time by replacing Mata and Martial with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford.
He also changed his system and operated in the second half with a back three of Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling and Lindelof.
United’s steady improvement saw Lukaku and Herrera not far away from scoring.
And 12 minutes from time United did score, Rashford heading home in fine style from Lukaku’s excellent cross from the right.
United pressed for an equaliser and in added time Mathias Jorgensen made a vital block to deny Smalling the goal United desired.
Mourinho refused to blame the wind and rain for upsetting his side’s usual rhythm.
He said: “The conditions are the same for everyone.
“The only difference is that we played three days ago in the Champions League and they didn’t.
“So that can compensate quality.” for