MAN UNITED 2, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
An emotionally charged afternoon in which Manchester United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster was followed by a Reds’ victory against Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford.
It wasn’t pretty on the eye, but United did enough to find a way past the battling Terriers through second-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez on his home debut.
And with leaders Manchester City surprisingly held at Burnley, United cut City’s lead from 16 to 13 points.
It was a satisfactory performance from United – nothing more than that – as they bounced back from the midweek defeat at Tottenham.
And Reds’ goalkeeper David De Gea, making his 300th appearance for the Reds, could not have had an easier ride as he didn’t have a shot to save.
Manager Jose Mourinho was satisfied, saying: “I thought we were in control from the first minute, but it was difficult as it was 0-0 at half time.
“In the second half it was important to be calm and not go direct. The goal came and at 1-0 I thought the game was ours, and it was a solid performance.”
Mourinho spoke of the decision to relegate Paul Pogba to the bench in favour of young Scott McTominay describing his simplicity as genius.
He said: “I always try to do the best for the team in any moment.
“I prefer to look at it in a beautiful way of a kid arriving here aged nine with his mum for the first training session and 11/12 years later play an important first-team match at Old Trafford.
“To sit on the bench for one match is not the end of the world. And you saw Paul’s attitude by the way he played when he came on.”
It was another sorry afternoon for Huddersfield, their fifth league defeat in a row and ninth game on the trot without a victory as they dropped into the relegation places for the first time this season.
They looked like a team that is running on empty, though they put in a splendid defensive effort and battled throughout, but there was a clear lack of quality.
United marked the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster as family of those who perished in the plane crash were invited to Old Trafford as guests of the club.
Before the start a huge banner moved across the Stretford End honouring the team of 1958 declaring ‘We’ll Never Die.’
That was followed by one minute’s silence that was impeccably observed.
Mourinho made four changes from the side that kicked off against Tottenham in midweek.
There were recalls for Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, McTominay and Juan Mata while Sanchez made his home debut.
The players to lose out were Pogba, Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Anthony Martial.
Jesse Lingard could have put United ahead in the eighth minute after making a darting run from half way, but he was denied by a diving save from Jonas Lossl.
Mourinho was furious his side wasn’t awarded a penalty after Terence Kongolo’s dangerous high challenge that laid out McTominay in the box.
Kongolo escaped punishment and referee Stuart Attwell resumed play with a drop ball to the astonishment of most inside the ground.
United went close when Sanchez cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce shot that Lossi did well to turn round the post.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute following a terrific build up.
Nemanja Matic released Mata on the left and his first-time cross was volleyed home at the near post by Lukaku for his 19th goal of the season and fourth in the last six games.
United made their first change midway through the half when Lingard was replaced by Pogba.
The Reds made it 2-0 after 68 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by substitute Michael Hefele.
Sanchez saw his spot kick saved by Lossl, but the ball rebounded to the forward who slotted home.
Mata was replaced by Marcus Rashford and Lukaku by Martial as United went in search of further goals, though they were not forthcoming in the latter stages.