TERRIERS NEED MORE BITE AFTER A DOGGED START

FUNNY how the Premier League can follow a familiar pattern over the first few weeks.

The title race is already shaping up as a shootout between the two Manchester clubs, City as the great entertainers and United resolutely ready for a challenge.

Spurs and Chelsea are also up there and it is a testament to their consistency as to how quickly they have taken up their positions in the top four. No one would be surprised if that is how they finish.

Similarly, one of the newly-promoted clubs often starts well only to trail off as the unforgiving realities of the top flight kick in later during the campaign.

Hull City set off like a train last season, Mike Phelan got a manager-ofthe-month award before he was sacked and they eventually went down.

Huddersfield will hope they do not follow the same path, since David Wagner’s men have raised eyebrows with their impressive start.

They were widely tipped to be among the favourites for the drop, yet they are in the top half of the table after some good performances and results.

What really catches the eye is that they have kept four clean sheets in their opening six games and their defence has been the foundation of their early form.

It will be a huge test for the Terriers tomorrow lunchtime as they host Tottenham, one of the title favourites who have won all three of their away games in the Premier League.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have been electric – and keeping them quiet will be a difficult test.

But Wagner (below) has assembled a formidable defence on a shoestring budget, their back five costing just £5.3million. Keeper Jonas Lossl is on a season-long loan, right-back Tommy Smith joined on a free in 2013, Mathias Zanka arrived from FC Copenhagen for £3.5m, Christopher Schindler was £1.8m and left-back Chris Lowe also came on a free transfer.

They have a strong understanding and it would be a lack of goals which might be the bigger obstacle to their hopes of survival.

They may have to rely heavily on Tom Ince to provide the forwards with the ammunition.

But if they can find the goals, keep clean sheets and accumulate enough points early on, then they could upset the odds and survive.