Crystal Palace 0 Huddersfield 3 – MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Premier League new boys top of the league after smashing Eagles in dream start to life in the big time
New boys had a dream start after Joel Ward conceded an own goal before Steve Mounie doubled their lead three minutes later.
STEVE MOUNIE scored twice to get Huddersfield debut season in the Premier League off to a stunning start.
Huddersfield’s record £11.5million signing sealed his new club’s first victory in the top-flight for 45 years.
And it was no more than David Wagner’s newly-promoted team deserved as they ensured Frank de Boer’s reign as Palace boss got off to the worst possible start.
The Terriers ruffled the Eagles feathers from the start and should have taken the lead in the second minute when Tommy Smith’s cross found its way through to Tom Ince on the penalty spot.
But the former Derby winger could not get the ball out of his feet and ended up scuffing a weak shot straight at Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.
It was no surprise when Huddersfield did take the lead in the 23rd minute with a set-piece routine that had the Eagles’ defence and sixes and sevens.
Chris Schindler flicked on Aaron Mooy’s corner to the far post where Mathias Jorgensen played the ball back across goal. But before one of his team-mates was able to put the ball over the line it was turned into his own net by hapless Palace defender Joel Ward.
The 2,800 travelling fans were in dreamland three minutes later when Mounie headed in Mooy’s perfect cross to make it 2-0 to Town.
De Boer sent on Andros Townsend at half time in a bid to get Palace back into the game.
And Christian Benteke saw a header brilliantly saved by Town keeper Jonas Lossi.
But Mounie showed he is as good with his feet as he is with his head as he lashed in Colin Quaner’s pass from inside the box for the third goal in the 79th minute.
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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- De Boer looked bewildered in the first half as he saw his side get blown away in the first half to the Premier League's new boys.
- During the first half referee Jonathan Moss warned Wilfried Zaha to stop whinging and moaning or he will get booked.
- Timothy Fosu-Mensah is the first teenager to start a Premier League game for Crystal Palace since Tom Soares and Ben Watson in 2005.
- The Eagles improved after the interval but despite their pretty play they struggled to create chances, while their defence continued to look shaky.
- Town keeper Jonas Lossl made immense saves in the second half after arriving on loan from Mainz.
- Wagner proves to have unearthed a gem in the shape of Mounie, after arriving from Montpellier for £11.5m.
- Huddersfield fans sang: "We're top of the league, we're top of the league!"
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 6, Fosu-Mensah 6 (Tomkins 78, 5), Dann 6, Riedewald 6, Ward 6, Milivojevic 6 (Townsend 45, ), Puncheon 6, Van Aanholt 7; Loftus-Cheek 6, Zaha 6, Benteke 6.
Subs not used: Speroni, Chung-Yong, Schlupp, Ladapo, Eyenga Lokilo.
Bookings: Puncheon.
Huddersfield: Lossl 7, Lowe 7, Schindler 7, Zanka 7, Smith 7 (William 57, 6), Billing 7, Mooy 8, Ince 7, Palmer 6 (Quaner 72, ), Kachunga 6, Mounie 8 (Van La Parra 72, 5).
Subs not used: Malone, Coleman, Depoitre, Hefele.
Goals: Ward (23, OG), Mounie (26, 78).
WHAT THEY SAID
Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer: "If you analyse the game, it is quite simple. We started well but after 10 minutes the game changed.
"Tactically, we did not do what we spoke about and paid an expensive price. We were close to making it 2-1 and if we did, I had a feeling we would get a point."
Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner: "We came into the game quite well. Tom Ince missed a chance but we were clinical and had the right fight, attitude an togetherness. The result does not show how the game was because Palace had their chances too.
"Steve Mounie missed a big chance, we spoke about this rather than the two goals. He played well, coming into the Premier League with two goals, there is no better day for him."
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