Huddersfield Town 1-1 Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United will not be playing in next season’s Champions League, after they failed to beat relegated Huddersfield Town at a packed John Smith Stadium today.
The Terriers say goodbye to the Premier League and in doing so, they took a point from the most successful team in the competition’s history. After Scott McTominay gave the Red Devils an early lead, Huddersfield hit back in the second half through Isaac Mbenza. It was a special day for the hosts but a nightmare for the visitors.
We said a home win or a draw would be one of the biggest Premier League 2019 results of the year, and so it was as the home fans roared their heroes on to a valiant point. But for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer it means a summer of rebuilding before a Europa League campaign next season.
Highlights of the game
Huddersfield’s last home game in the top flight got off to a terrible start for the hosts when their keeper made a blunder to hand Manchester United the lead. McTominay picked up the ball around 30 yards out and sidestepped Terence Kongolo before firing a low shot which Jonas Lossl should have saved, but he let the ball bounce off his foot and into the net.
United keeper David de Gea has been under plenty of pressure himself with a series of high profile errors, but he made a big save to preserve the Red Devils’ lead when a poor ball from Phil Jones allowed Grant to burst through onto goal, but de Gea did well to save in one on one as the Huddersfield man fired low and hard.
One of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest problems has been the inconsistent form of Paul Pogba and he was pretty quiet again in the first half, but he can provide a big moment at any time, and he almost made it two just before the break. Juan Mata fired in a cross and the World Cup winner sent a superb header crashing against the crossbar.
The Terriers were playing with real spirit as the home crowd was determined to enjoy every minute, and they had their big moment on 60 when Lossl redeemed himself. The Huddersfield keeper caught the ball and, thinking quickly, fired his kick straight down the middle of the pitch and deep into the United half. Luke Shaw waved a foot at it and Mbenza took advantage, advancing on De Gea and sliding the ball home.
The crowd erupted as if the Terriers had won the league. It was route one stuff but brilliantly executed, and that meant a difficult last half hour for the Red Devils.
Phil Jones had a glorious chance to restore United’s lead when he met Ashley Young’s whipped in cross, but he fired well over, and then Marcus Rashford screwed a shot wide when he should have scored.
United continued to press in search of a winner and Pogba hit the woodwork for a second time with a curling effort. Then, as Huddersfield broke and their fans roared Grant tried to beat de Gea again, but this time the United keeper saved with his legs.
Marcus Rashford had the last chance of the match firing at Lossl’s near post, but now the keeper’s handling was superb.
Key statistics
The Huddersfield vs Manchester United betting odds suggested the Red Devils would end their winless streak, but that has now stretched to five games.
SBOBET Premier League fans love an underdog and the Terriers fought tooth and nail against an expensively assembled side which had 64 per cent possession and 23 shots to the hosts’ seven.
The Terriers have had one win in 14 since head coach Jan Siewart took over but this felt like a win, and they ended a run of eight consecutive defeats.
Mbenza’s goals meant Huddersfield avoided the dishonour of being the first club in top flight history to fail to reach double figures at home, and they are still cheering in Huddersfield now!
The Terriers have won just three games this season and two of those against Wolves. But that’s now ten Premier League games without a clean sheet for Manchester United, a worrying statistic for OGS.
And the last time the Red Devils won their final away game of the season was way back in 2012.
What’s next?
This was an emotional day for the Terriers, the last home game in the Premier League and a chance to thank their beloved chairman, Dean Hoyle who is stepping down, and their fans were brilliant today. They make their final appearance away to Southampton next week.
Next up for United is a period of serious reflection; after they play a dead rubber against already another relegated team, when Cardiff City visits Old Trafford.
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