Huddersfield Town succumbed to a heavy 5-1 defeat to Premier League giants Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this evening.
A shock may have been on cards early on as Harry Bunn stunned the home crowd by putting the SkyBet Championship outfit in front in the 8th minute.
But goals from Leroy Sane and Pablo Zabaleta, with Sergio Aguero's penalty in between, turned the replay in Manchester City's favour before half-time.
Aguero scored his second of the night in the second 45 minutes, sweeping home Raheem Sterling's cross before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho poked in a fifth in stoppage time.
Here's how the game unfolded...
First Half
4 Minutes: Sane rattles Joel Coleman’s left-hand post after good build-up play from Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho.
6 Minutes: Aguero wriggles free but shoots straight at Coleman from a corner of the six yard box.
7 Minutes: HARRY BUNN STRIKES FOR TOWN!!
16 Minutes: De Bruyne shoots straight at Coleman from a free-kick.
18 Minutes: Manchester City have a penalty shout waved away.
20 Minutes: Another penalty shout is waved away for the hosts.
30 Minutes : Sane equalises for City after Sterling jinks his way past Tareiq Holmes-Dennis.
34 Minutes: Jon Gorenc Stankovic drags down Aguero in the area for a penalty with the defender also booked for the foul.
35 Minutes: Sergio Aguero scores the resultant spot-kick. 2-1
37 Minutes: Martin Cranie is dispossessed by Aguero, whose shot strikes the post to Coleman’s left.
38 Minutes: Zabaleta scores for City. 3-1
43 Minutes:Philip Billing plays in Jack Payne but he shoots straight at Claudio Bravo from eight yards.
Second Half
55 Minutes: Joe Lolley puts an unmarked header from six yards out over the bar.
58 Minutes:Collin Quaner goes down in the box under a challenge from Stones... waved away by the ref.
74 Minutes: Aguero makes it 4-1.
85 Minutes: Coleman makes a good save from Sterling but the City winger was adjudged to be offside anyway.
89 Minutes: The ball drops perfectly for Quaner, but he smashes his shot over the bar.
90+1 Minutes: Iheanacho scores City’s fifth of the night in stoppage time.
Key Moment
After such a fine start with Harry Bunn’s opener, a ten-minute spell of madness on the half hour undid David Wagner’s side.
Moan of the Match
Town’s alarming mental disintegration after Jon Gorenc Stankovic conceded the penalty for Sergio Aguero to make it 2-1.
Talking Point
Town’s normally strong mental strength appeared alarmingly brittle - albeit against some of the best players on the planet. If the club do have aspirations of the Premier League, it is something David Wagner needs to be aware of.
Man of the Match
Philip Billing - at times showed a maturity beyond his years with his sharp vision and passing and neatly set-up Town’s only goal of the game.
Tweet of the Match
Referee Watch
Paul Tierney (Lancashire) - Tried to let the game flow but missed too many key decisions.
Atmosphere
The Huddersfield Town fans added much-needed noise to an otherwise soulless Etihad Stadium.
Verdict
It was always just a ‘bonus’ game with bigger league encounters to come - everyone connected with Huddersfield Town should leave it at that and move on.
Line-Ups
Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Bravo; Clichy, Stones, Otamendi, Zabaleta; Fernandinho; Sterling, Garcia, De Bruyne (Delph,75), Sane (Navas); Aguero (Iheanacho, 78)
Subs Not Used: Caballero, Sagna, Fernando, Silva
Booked:
Huddersfield Town (4-2-3-1): Coleman; Cranie, Holmes-Dennis, Hudson, Stankovic; Whitehead, Billing (Hogg, 67); Lolley (Smith, 61), Payne, Bunn (van La Parra, 54); Quaner
Subs Not Used: Ward, Kachunga, Wells, Hefele
Booked: Hudson, Stankovic
Half Time: Manchester City 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Att: 42,425
Next Match: Newcastle United, SkyBet Championship, Saturday March 4 (5.30pm kick-off)
