MOOY STORY 2 IS A SMASH HIT
THIS was a result and performance to renew belief at Huddersfield Town. From bottom to 14th in the course of an afternoon — and deservedly so.
Only those with the club in their hearts thought they might stay up for a second season after an awful autumn where goals were scarce and points flew away with the leaves.
But now the rest of the Premier League should view Huddersfield as more than a Championship side in waiting. They totally outplayed Wolves, producing a display of fight, intelligence and quality. David Wagner has already worked miracles in recent seasons and here his instructions were spot on.
The Wolves midfield of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were overwhelmed by Huddersfield’s energy and the home side were unable to gain any control.
Aaron Mooy got both goals with brilliant strikes and he will be missed when he is away with Australia for January’s Asian Cup. That concern is offset by the towering presence of Philip Billing, who was excellent here. Jonathan Hogg was everywhere and Alex Pritchard combined a cutting edge with high work-rate.
It all added to the gathering momentum around Wagner’s side who, after collecting only three points in the first 10 games, have seven from their last three. This was also the first time since February they registered two goals in a Premier League match.
Wolves, on the other hand, are going the other way. It is four losses and no wins in five matches and Nuno Espirito Santo has urgent details to attend to.
‘We were very bad,’ accepted the Wolves manager. ‘Everybody made mistakes. We rushed ourselves, we were not compact. We have to analyse. It is not the first time after an international break, so maybe we are doing something wrong.’
Wagner said Mooy maintained exemplary levels despite playing 80 minutes in Australia five days before and added: ‘Today is not to praise the game plan, it is to praise the players. We have known that we are not as poor as everybody thinks because we have seen the games.
‘I am very happy the players got their rewards for their bravery against a very good football team. They pressed high and showed aggression and spirit.’
Scoring an early goal undoubtedly gave Huddersfield confidence.
Matt Doherty lost possession on the Wolves right, Billing fed Erik Durm on the overlap and his pullback reached Mooy 20 yards out. Mooy ran on to the ball and hit it first time into the bottom corner. It was a crisp, cushioned finish and the forlorn dive by Rui Patricio only emphasised its accuracy.
Huddersfield kept up their intensity. A pincer movement saw Mooy rob Neves of possession and Pritchard ran through to shoot, the ball deflecting off Willy Boly.
Patricio then saved headers from Steve Mounie and Terence Kongolo and had to be alert to keep out a 30-yard shot by Mounie. Doherty cleared Billing’s header off the line.
Nuno made two changes at the break, sending on Morgan GibbsWhite and Adama Traore. It was through the bleach-haired winger that Wolves went agonisingly close to an equaliser.
Adama crossed to Raul Jimenez, who beat goalkeeper Jonas Lossl with a downward header. Just as the ball looked to have crossed the line, Billing produced a bicyclekick clearance. Goal-line technology showed 18 millimetres in it and the ball even kissed the underside of the bar on its way out.
Huddersfield responded by making the win certain. Wolves conceded a free-kick 20 yards out and Mooy struck beautifully as he bent his shot low around the wall.
Before that, Patricio had saved well with his legs when Pritchard struck hard from Billing’s backheel.
Diogo Jota came on late and drew a good, low save from Lossl, but Huddersfield ended the game as they had started — dominant. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (3-4-3): Patricio 6; Bennett 6, Coady 6, Boly 6; Doherty 6, Moutinho 5 (Gibbs-White 46min, 6), Neves 5, Vinagre 6; Costa 5 (Jota 75, 6), Jimenez 5, Cavaleiro 5 (Traore 46, 6). Subs not used: Ruddy, Saiss, Dendoncker, Bonatini. Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-4-2-1): Lossl 7; Smith 7, Kongolo 7, Schindler 7; Hadergjonaj 7, Hogg 8 (Stankovic 90), Billing 8 (Williams 90), Durm 7; MOOY 8.5, Pritchard 8 (Mbenza 90); Mounie 7.5. Subs not used: Hamer, Kachunga, Sobhi, Depoitre. Scorer: Mooy 6, 74. Booked: Smith, Hogg. Manager: David Wagner 9. Referee: Kevin Friend 7. Attendance: 30,130.