MANCHESTER UNITED 3, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1
Nemanja Matic’s first goal since March and a Paul Pogba double kept Huddersfield Town rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became only the fifth Manchester United boss to start his Old Trafford reign with two Premier League wins.
Solskjaer’s arrival has lifted the Old Trafford crowd, with his restored banner 20LEGEND back and the Stretford End serenading the victorious boss as he went towards the tunnel afterwards.
The Terriers nicked a late consolation goal through Mathias Jorgensen but despite creating chances throughout the game they will regret an early one which was blazed over by Terence Kongolo.
The Old Trafford crowd had been silenced by Huddersfield Town’s brighter start but they were roused by Nemanja Matic’s opener.
It was a well worked corner routine by Marcus Rashford which was flicked on by Victor Lindelof before Matic pounced on the ball from three yards out in the 28th minute.
United started slowly in the second half, giving away several chances to Town who saw an overhead kick from Laurent Depoitre go wide, an Isaac Mbenza shot blocked and an Elias Kachunga shot go over the the bar.
Solskjaer made a double change to steady the ship with Ashley Young and Ander Herrera coming on for Diogo Dalot and Fred, and Rashford’s free kick was duly collected by Lossl.
United built a commanding lead in the 64th minute when Paul Pogba was given a square pass by Ander Herrera and the midfielder made it 2-0 with a low strike that went in off the post from 13 yards.
Pogba finished off the Terriers after 78 minutes when he exchanged passes with Jesse Lingard and thundered a similar low drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
That was the cue for the new boss to bring on Angel Gomes for only his third senior United appearance – a sign of his trust in youth.
Town grabbed a late consolation when Mathias Zanka stabbed home Steve Mounie’s knockdown from a long Town free kick into the area but the game was long since over.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 3, Huddersfield Town 1
David De Gea: 7. Not much to do apart from watch an early Town chance get blazed over the bar. Great second half save from Laurent Depoitre.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Little to trouble him, he blocked a Town chance.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Flick on for the Matic goal early on.
Phil Jones: 7. Not much of a Huddersfield Town attack to defend against.
Luke Shaw: 6. Diligently patrolled his flank.
Fred: 6. Rash tackle brought on a booking, faded out of the game and was replaced.
Nemanja Matic: 7. Scored an easy tap in from a set piece.
Juan Mata: 6. Flashes of talent but difficult against Town’s packed defence. Pulled the ball back to Ander Herrera to square to Paul Pogba for United’s second goal.
Paul Pogba: 9. Took risks, attacked, and was there to get his reward with a deserved brace in the second half. And what a celebration after his second strike in front of the Stretford End.
Jesse Lingard: 6. Crowded out when he tried to get through the Town defence.
Marcus Rashford: 8. His corner provided the first goal and he put in several good crosses too and had several shots saved while leading the line.
GOALS – Manchester United 3, Huddersfield Town 1
Man Utd 1, Hudderfield Town 0: 28. Nemanja Matic with the tap in from 3 yards out after Marcus Rashford’s corner was flicked on by Victor Lindelof #mufc #htafc
Man Utd 2, Huddersfield Town 0: 64. Paul Pogba stroked the ball home in off the left post after a square pass by Ander Herrera following Juan Mata’s run and cut back. #mufc #htafc
Man Utd 3. Huddersfield Town 0: 78. Paul Pogba exchanged passes with Jesse Lingard before thundering a 25 yard low strike past Lossl into the bottom corner – he saluted the Stretford End as they acknowledged the beauty of his effort
Man Utd 3, Huddersfield Town 1: 88. Consolation finish by Town as Mathias Jorgensen stabbed home from 3 yards after reacting to Steve Mounie’s knock down from a long range Town free kick.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 3, Huddersfield Town 1
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot (Young 53), Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Fred (Herrera 53), Matic, Mata (Gomes 80), Pogba, Lingard, Rashford
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Pereira, Fellaini
Booked: Fred 30
Goals: Matic 28; Pogba 64, 78
Huddersfield Town: Lossl, Hadergjonaj, Zanka, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm, Kachunga (Lowe 57), Pritchard, Billing, Mbenza (Quaner 62), Depoitre (Mounie 73)
Huddersfield Town Subs not used: Hamer, Hogg, Bacuna, Stankovic
Booked: Kachunga 23
Attendance: 74,523