MAN UNITED 3, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1
Former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a triumphant return to Old Trafford as Manchester United’s interim manager.
The Reds were too strong for a stubborn Huddersfield Town as they made it back-to-back wins since the Norwegian succeeded Jose Mourinho.
And two-goal Paul Pogba is a player revitalised by the change of regime as, the strikes apart, he produced an accomplished display seldom seen under Mourinho’s watch.
Nemanja Matic also found the net while the only blot was a late goal from the Terriers’ Mathias Zanka.
Solskjaer, given a hero’s welcome back to Old Trafford, has let the Reds play with a freedom to express themselves that was largely absent when Mourinho was in charge.
That has been illustrated by the eight goals scored in his two matches as manager as the Reds have produced some excellent attacking play.
Embed from Getty ImagesSolskjaer spoke about the pride of managing the Reds at Old Trafford for the first time: “It was special the crowd singing my song.
“Normally it was when I scored, not when I walked out. It was humbling and hopefully my family here and in Norway will be proud. I will never forget these two games.”
Solskjaer described it as a “fantastic” result.
He continued: “Some of the football we played was really good.
“We scored three goals and I cannot ask for more, other than a clean sheet the boys have promised me one.”
Solskjaer pointed to the world-class save made by David De Gea with the score 1-0 being pivotal to the win adding it would have been difficult had Huddersfield equalised.
The manager added he has made “little tweaks” adding it will take time to put over his philosophy.
“We will improve and I said to the Staff after we were 2-0 and 3-0 up we have Sanchez, Martial and Lukaku to come back and finish off teams,” he said.
Terriers’ manager David Wagner explained they were beaten by a world-class player (Paul Pogba) saying his side was not clinical enough in taking the chances they created.
Wagner added goals change games and it would have helped had they scored in the opening period and that would have put a different complexion on the game.
And after another encouraging display, Wagner believes his side can easily collect more points in the second half of the season and can stave off the threat of relegation as they are bottom of the table.
United made three changes from the side that won 5-1 at Cardiff City in Solskjaer’s first game in charge.
Diogo Dalot, Fred and Juan Mata replaced Ashley Young, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial who was ill.
Solskjaer, a Champion League and treble winner for the Reds in 1999, was given a tumultuous reception as he made his way to the technical area on his homecoming, a stark contrast to the mood under Mourinho.
United, who had won 5-1 at Cardiff in Solskjaer’s first game, were lucky not to fall behind as the Terriers had two clear-cut chances in the opening 12 minutes.
Isaac Mbenza and Elias Kachunga both fired over, the latter from seven yards when he ought to have hit the target.
United’s first chance after quarter of an hour saw Jesse Lingard shoot straight at keeper Jonas Lossl from 25 yards as they struggled against the Terriers’ well organised back line in a 5-4-1 formation.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute through an unlikely source as Matic scored a rare goal, only his third in 70 matches for the Reds.
Victor Lindelof’s near-post header from Marcus Rashford’s corner flashed across the face of goal and Matic tapped in from a couple of yards.
It was Matic’s first goal in 23 Premier League games since March.
United ought to have a second goal five minutes before the break when Dalot, completely free, shot wide from eight yards after latching on to Rashford’s cross from the left.
United were almost punished for lazy defending in stoppage time, but Philip Billing could only shoot into the side netting.
And United made an unimpressive start to the second half as the Terriers had three decent chances to equalise in the first five minutes.
Laurent Depoitre’s overhead kick flew wide, Mbenza’s shot was blocked while Kachunga blazed over.
United, badly needing more stability, made two changes in the 53rd minute as Fred and Dalot were replaced by Herrera and Young.
Huddersfield almost equalised just after the hour when De Gea pulled off a brilliant save to claw out Depoitre’s shot following an Alex Pritchard corner.
It proved a defining moment in the match as United made it 2-0 minutes later through Pogba following a build-up down the right.
Mata cut the ball back and Herrera squared a pass to Pogba to sweep home a shot from 16 yards in off the upright.
Pogba added a third goal and seventh for the season in the 78th minute, an even sweeter strike than his opener.
Jesse Lingard squared a pass to Pogba who found the net with a terrific shot from 25 yards.
Solskjaer fulfilled his pledge to play young players as Angel Gomes replaced Mata with 10 minutes left.
Huddersfield were rewarded for their considerable efforts with an 88th minute goal from Zanka.
A free kick was headed across the face of goal by Steve Mounie for Zanka to slot home from a couple of yards.
It was the only blemish on an otherwise near-perfect afternoon for the new Reds’ regime.