HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0, MANCHESTER CITY 3
Danilo, Raheem Sterling, and Leroy Sane scored as Manchester City eased to victory against Premier League bottom club Huddersfield Town who were led out for the first time by caretaker head coach Mark Hudson.
The Terriers put in a spirited performance after the departure of their head coach, David Wagner, with a heartfelt video message from the German shown to fans at half time.
Embed from Getty ImagesRaheem Sterling appeared to have been denied a penalty in the opening minutes of the game.
Once they had their first half lead – with Danilo scoring their 100th goal of the season – City sat back and cruised through the game, scoring twice in the second half to make sure of the result even though the Terriers never stopped trying to create chances, trying to exploit Kyle Walker’s flank, after his earlier booking.
Victory meant that City closed the gap on Liverpool to 4 points again at the top of the Premier League.
Sergio Aguero had an early chance to put City into the lead but saw his dinked chance go wide from 6 yards out after just 3 minutes.
Adama Diakhaby headed wide after 7 minutes after a cross from Elias Kachunga as Town caretaker manager opted for pace in forward areas at the expense of both strikers Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre.
Sterling was denied a penalty after 13 minutes when De Bruyne put him clean through but Terence Kongolo appeared to foul the England man in the box but no penalty was given.
City remained patient though and their 100th goal in all competitions this season soon arrived in the 18th minute.
Danilo’s 20 yard strike looked to be going wide but deceived Jonas Lossl after it took a wicked deflection off the head of luckless captain Chris Schindler who was trying to clear it only to see it deflect into the Terriers’ net instead.
Town did not retreat, though, and Terence Kongolo tested Ederson as the Terriers enjoyed a spell of possession during which Kyle Walker and Juninho Bacuna were booked for separate committed fouls.
City seemed satisfied with their lead, with a midweek dead rubber against Burton Albion coming up, cruised until half time.
Manchester City score twice in the second half to put the game out of reach of Huddersfield Town
City put the game out of reach for the Terriers with two goals in 2 second half minutes.
Leroy Sane looked offside after 54 minutes when he was released by Kevin De Bruyne to cross for a flying Sterling header to put City 2-0 up for his 12th goal of the season.
There was no argument two minutes later when Danilo’s long pass forward was put back into the German’s path by a cushioned Aguero header and the German’s finishing was clinical for his 11th of the season.
David Silva immediately replaced Fernandinho as City reshuffled with Gundogan dropping back into the departed Brazilian’s deep midfield berth.
Bernardo Silva came on for Sane while Fabian Delph replaced Gundogan.
Steve Mounie misses sum up Huddersfield Town’s Premier League campaign this season
With temperatures dropping quickly at the John Smith’s Stadium, Alex Pritchard and Steve Mounie came on and the Terriers were lifted.
The Benin striker curled a shot wide in one of his first involvements.
Mounie also saw a late header from substitute Alex Pritchard’s cross saved by Ederson and the Brazilian ‘keeper was out of his box late in the game to clear a ball away from the Benin striker as he raced through on goal.
Bernardo Silva could have made it 4-0 with 4 minutes to go but shot straight at Jonas Lossl – the first save the Town goalkeeper had made.
There wasn’t even a gift of a consolation goal in added time when Fabian Delph inexplicably gave the ball to Mounie 6 yards out as Town made a final push.
Mounie turned and struck the ball hard but he sent it well wide – summing up Town’s Premier League campaign this season.
TEAM CHANGES AND NOTES – Huddersfield Town 0, Manchester City 3
Huddersfield Town (from the Cardiff draw, 6 changes):
Tommy Smith, Terence Kongolo, Juninho Bacuna, Adama Diakhaby, Chris Lowe, and Isaac Mbenza came into the side
Philip Billing, Alex Pritchard, Steve Mounie, Zanka, Florent Hadergjonaj, and Erik Durm were left out
Manchester City (from the Wolves win, 4 changes):
John Stones, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus left out.
Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero brought in.
Jason Puncheon made his 200th Premier League appearance
Sergio Aguero outscored the entire Huddersfield Town team this season in all competitions. He only had an assist today.
Winger Adama Diakhaby played as central striker for Huddersfield Town today
There were technical challenges in getting David Wagner’s farewell message to the Huddersfield Town fans on the big screen at the John Smith’s Stadium – not unlike their season so far.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 0, Manchester City 3
Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 1: 18. Danilo with City’s 100th goal in all competitions. A 20 yard strike which deceived Jonas Lossl after it took a wicked deflected off the head of Chris Schindler even though it might have been going wide initially.
Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 2: 54. Leroy Sane’s cross converted by Raheem Sterling with a flying header despite a suspicion of offside by Sane when he was released by Kevin De Bruyne.
Huddersfield Town 0, Man City 3: 56. Danilo’s long pass forward was cushioned back into the path of Leroy Sane by Sergio Aguero. The German who made no mistake for City’s third.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 0, Manchester City 3
Huddersfield Town (4-3-3): Lossl, Smith (C), Schindler, Kongolo, Lowe; Hogg, Puncheon, Bacuna (Pritchard 64); Kachunga, Diakhaby (Mounie 58), Mbenza
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Hamer, Depoitre, Zanka, Hadergjonaj, Durm
Booked: Bacuna 30 (going in on Aymeric Laporte), Hogg 43 (foul on Fernandinho)
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Danilo; Fernandinho (C) (David Silva 58), Gundogan (Delph 80), De Bruyne; Sane (Bernardo Silva 72), Sterling, Aguero
Manchester City Subs not used: Muric, Stones, Jesus, Foden
Booked: Walker 27 (sliding in on Chris Lowe), Fernandinho 50 (challenge on Bacuna)
Goals: Danilo 18, Sterling 54, Sane 56
Attendance: 24,190 (2,306 Manchester City fans)