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Nigel French
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Huddersfield Town vs Man United, Premier League

Huddersfield welcomed Manchester United to Kirklees Stadium aiming to earn their third league win of the season.

Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

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Kick off is at 3.00pm.

Huddersfield welcome Jose Mourinho’s side to Kirklees Stadium attempting to not only curb a poor run of form which has seen them take just a solitary point from their last 15 on offer, but also in the process bring an end to Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season.

United recorded their second consecutive Champions League win midweek thanks to Marcus Rashford’s winner against Benfica — aided by  an unholy error by 18-year-old goalkeeper Mile Svilar.

Following last weekend’s dour 0-0 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League, Mourinho’s side are now two points adrift of Manchester City in second spot and will be adament to bridge the gap sooner rather than later.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, sit 13th win two wins from 8 games back in the top flight.

The last time these sides met was in March 1972. Read more about their last encounter, featuring one George Best, here.

Kick-off for today’s meeting is just under 45 minutes away, with team news coming thick and fast…

Here are today’s teams:

Huddersfield: Lossl, Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Lowe, Hogg, Williams, Ince, Mooy, Kachunga, Depoitre.

Subs: Malone, Sabiri, Coleman, Cranie, van La Parra, Mounie, Hadergjonaj.

Man United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Young, Ander Herrera, Matic, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Lukaku.

Subs: Romero, Lindelof, Blind, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Darmian, McTominay.

Just 10 minutes to go before kick-off.

In today’s early kick-off Chelsea managed to turn a 2-1 deficit against Watford into a dramatic 4-2 win, as Antonio Conte’s side battled hard late on when it looked like they might have suffered another home defeat this season at Stamford Bridge.

The win leaves them in fourth spot with a game in hand on all of Tottenham, Man United and Man City ahead of the rest of this weekend’s games.

We’re underway…

A very positive start from Huddersfield as a cracking atmosphere wraps around the Kirklees Stadium.

David Wagner is not known for a defensive style or philosophy, and the German will certainty have told his players not to sit back and allow Manchester United’s attacking talents come at them.

They have taken the front foot inside the opening few minutes.

Chance! Romelu Lukaku has the game’s first sight at goal as Matic feeds a through ball to the Belgian, who in turn forces a fine low save from goalkeeper Lössl with this afternoon’s first shot on target.

It’s all kicking off now as Anthony Martial and Tommy Smith come together in a heated exchange off the ball. There is a yellow card for both players from referee Lee Mason.

The French winger took exception to a sliding challenge from the Huddersfield defender, before having a slight kick at his opponent in return.

A second booking for the hosts as Christopher Schindler finds his way into referee Mason’s book for a challenge on the left wing which gives United a free-kick in a promising position.

It’s a poor free-kick which flies out of touch. Ashley Young tried to find Romelu Lukaku breaking free at the back post, but the set-piece delivery left a lot to be desired. A very feisty opening with three yellow cards in the space of 10 minutes.

Martial with yet another foul — his third of the afternoon so far. He earns the boos and jeers of the home supporters and surely won’t receive another warning before being sent off by referee Mason.

Some better play from United as the relentless and at times toxic atmosphere between the two sets of teams continues.

Lukaku is involved in every attacking move for United in the final third. Ashley Young tries to find the Belgian with another cross, but the ball falls on the edge of the area to Ander Herrera who slams an effort wide of the post.

What looked like a promising break on the counter from United broke down rather aimlessly.

It was a 3 v 2 situation, however Anthony Martial’s final ball was not precise and was hoofed clear following some last-ditch backpeddling from David Wagner’s overstretched defence.

Phil Jones has gone down injured after what looks like like pulling a muscle. He will be replaced shortly.

Substitution for Man United: Victor Lindelöf replaces Phil Jones.

Space opens up for Nemanja Matić but the Serbian hoofs a poor effort flying over the top of the crossbar.

GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD 1-0 MAN UNITED (MOOY 28)

The Kirklees Stadium erupts as Huddersfield Town lead Manchester United in the first top-flight meeting of the pair in over 40 years.

It’s a brilliant break from the hosts at pace — Tom Ince sees his first effort saved brilliantly by David de Gea, but the Spanish goalkeeper can do nothing about the rebound which flies into the back of the net.

A sweet, sweet strike from Mooy inside the box which gives his side the lead and sets this game up nicely, forcing United to once again come at them if they want to avoid a first defeat of the season. Woof.

GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD 2-0 MAN UNITED (DEPOITRE 33)

They’ve doubled the lead! Huddersfield are in utter dreamland now as Laurent Depoitre slides the ball into the back of the net as De Gea is beaten twice in the space of five minutes.

A long ball fired out of defence is simply not dealt with by substitute Lindelof. He really should have simply headed the ball back where it came from, however the young defender let the ball drop only to see Depoitre take it off him and fire it into the back of the net.

Incredibly, it’s 2-0.

There are claims for a penalty from United following a challenge from Kachunga on Ander Herrera inside the area. Referee Lee Mason waves play on, however United supporters are adamant they should have gotten a spot-kick.

Completely end-to-end.

Substitution for Huddersfield: Rajiv van La Parra replaces Elias Kachunga.

Man United enjoying a spell of possession which sees Juan Mata fouled by Jonathan Hogg. They are really just trying to get on with this, playing the resulting free-kick short and getting the ball back into their cycle of passing to and fro.

Mourinho will want the deficit halved heading into the break, with Huddersfield currently camped inside their own half warding off any advances as they pine for the sound of the referee’s whistle to end the half and bring a few moments rest.

Chance for a third in stoppage time as the ball almost finds Tom Ince on the edge of the area — Juan Mata with the vital interception at the last possible moment.

A succession of corners for United as Jose Mourinho makes his way into the dressing room — he has seen enough.

Chances come and go, however Juan Mata’s stinging effort from range is the closest, but still of no avail as Huddersfield cling on to their two goal cushion heading into the interval.

HALF-TIME: HUDDERSFIELD 2-0 MAN UNITED

We’re back underway…

Substitution for Man United:  Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Anthony Martial.

Substitution for Man United: Marcus Rashford replaces Juan Mata.

Two big changes at the break from Jose Mourinho.

He headed down the tunnel before the half-time whistle and will undoubtedly still have three points in mind, bringing on attacking replacements for both Martial and Mata –neither of whom impressed in any great way in the opening 45 minutes.

Some good work from van La Parra thundering down the right wing. He reaches the byline but can’t manage to steer his cross into the box. Huddersfield still going for a third despite their two goal cushion.

Ashley Young attempts a pile-driver from range on his left foot, however the effort was always flying wide of the post.

A piece of fine, slow, steady build-up play from United ends in a terrible, uninspiring shot from Marcus Rashford which barely graces the side-netting.

The passing was slick and precise, however the young England striker lost his composure for a moment and hit a poor effort wildly spinning wide and rising over the crossbar.

Frustration is beginning to grow for the visitors as, on the opposite end of the spectrum, belief grows and grows for the hosts that three points could be within reach with just over half an hour to go.

United do well to earn a free-kick, however a delivery at the front post from Rashford sees Ander Herrera flagged for offside.

Ashley Young is booked for a deliberate tug of the shirt which gives Huddersfield a free-kick in a very promising position.

Chance! The free-kick is cleared at the first hurdle, however it falls to the edge of the area where a shot from range ignites calls for a penalty inside Kirklees Stadium.

Referee Mason waves play on as Huddersfield continue to go gunning for a third. They’re not stopping, they’re not giving up and the crowd are eating it up.

C-c-c-chance! Well, sort of. Almost – van La Parra takes possession inside the penalty box. He tries to slam the ball into an inviting bottom corner of David De Dea’s goal but a mass of red jerseys stand in his way.

The 26-year-old tries to maneuver his body around Chris Smalling, however the England defender does brilliantly to stand his ground, re-gain possession and ward off any threat of a third goal for Huddersfield.

Goalscorer Mooy is given a yellow card by referee Lee Mason after catching Antonio Valencia with a late sliding challenge.

Substitution for Huddersfield: Steve Mounie replaces Laurent Depoitre

Chance! Better again from United as Rashford feeds a killer ball to Lukaku. The Belgian has to stretch and just before he can make any sort of proper contact with the ball goalkeeper Lössl does well to come from his line and gather.

Time seems to be running out for United. They are enjoying a dominant period of possession, however given the chance David Wagner’s side are willing, able and happy to hit them on the break looking for a third goal which would surely wrap up the three points.

It’s do or die for Jose Mourinho’s side now with 15 minutes to go. Are United on their way to a first Premier League defeat of the season?

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United - Premier League - John Smith's Stadium Nigel French Nigel French

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United - Premier League - John Smith's Stadium

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United - Premier League - John Smith's Stadium

GOAL! HUDDERSFIELD 2-1 MAN UNITED (RASHFORD 78)

It’s all to play for now! Marcus Rashford halves the deficit with a fine header following some industrious work from Romelu Lukaku to maintain possession along the right wing and then hook in an inviting cross.

United are pushing and pushing in search of an equaliser. The atmosphere is rocking as it has done from the first minute. Huddersfield aren’t looking for a third anymore and are clinging for dear life onto their one goal lead with just under 10 minutes to go.

That said Huddersfield pile players forward as they catch United napping! The move breaks down eventually when it looked like they might just test De Gea for a final time

Now we resume the normal formation of the hosts sitting back absorbing pressure and Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford running around like madmen with absolutely nothing but a goal on their minds.

Deary me! It was so close to a third for Huddersfield and that would have been it.

Substitute van La Parra broke on the counter, forcing David De Gea to play the role of sweeper keeper.

The ball wasn’t properly cleared from the goalkeeper, however, but the Dutch forward couldn’t just regain his balance to slot the ball into an empty net as United bodies flooded back in panic to regain possession and end the danger.

There will be four minutes of addition time to come.

Huddersfield are just about hanging on but at the same time showing a lot of composure to keep possession when they have it, stroking the ball from player to player amid incredible pressure as United continue to hunt them down in packs.

An incredible block! And that might be it. The ball fell to Marcus Rashford and with the goal at his mercy he picked out a corner of Lössl’s net only to see the body of Jørgensen block down the attempt heroically.

FULL-TIME: HUDDERSFIELD 2-1 MAN UNITED

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