‘Special day’ for Liam Manning as Huddersfield reign starts with derby victory

New Huddersfield head coach Liam Manning could not have asked for more from his players after they saw out a 1-0 victory over local rivals Bradford despite being down to 10 men.

The Terriers had not beaten any of the other top-six teams in League One this season, but delivered a well-rounded performance to take a deserved victory.

Marcus Harness put them ahead in the 23rd minute and they held on for a vital victory over their promotion rivals despite Marcus McGuane being dismissed just after the hour mark for a second bookable offence.

Manning said: “It was a special game, and a special day. In terms of the performance, the result, the atmosphere, the energy, so many positives to take from it. As a first game, it was a special one that I’ll always remember, that’s for sure.

“What will have to underpin any successful team is that willingness to run, to go above and beyond what’s required to win a game, to put your body on the line, to show aggression, to show intent.

“We restricted them to very little in the first half, and we carried a real threat and controlled the game in a really good way in their half of the pitch.

“I think we also have to be careful. We haven’t cracked anything yet.

“But I think it’s obviously a terrific start, and I’m delighted – I thought the atmosphere was incredible, and I want to build a connection and for the lads to have a connection with the fans, and for people to be excited to turn up and get behind the team again.”

Bradford suffered their third defeat in four games to slip further behind leaders Cardiff.

Bantams manager Graham Alexander said: “It was a tough result to take.

“First half, the intensity that the game started at was a proper derby, I thought, but we weren’t able to compete, or weren’t allowed to compete, at the same level as they could, just in certain things. They broke up our momentum and broke our press.

“But the goal is down to us, without a shadow of a doubt. We switch off on a throw-in and they get a cheap goal, from that aspect of it.

“We didn’t really create enough pressure on their back line or in their final third in the first half to be worthy of being on level terms – so Huddersfield deserved it from the first half, without a doubt.

“We have to roll the punches, and for us it’s a defeat with a couple of our players missing.

“That’s football, that’s life, and there’s only two choices: you either wither up and die, or you go out fighting, and that’s what we’re going to go out and do.”

Both teams confirmed there had been an allegation of racist abuse made at full-time.

Bradford said the abuse came “from a supporter in the home end, towards Curtis Tilt” after the game and West Yorkshire Police were dealing with the matter.

A City statement added: “The club will cooperate fully with all investigations and support Curtis, who has allegedly been subjected to such abhorrent discrimination throughout the process.

“Bradford City AFC condemns all racist abuse in the strongest possible manner. We have a zero-tolerance policy to such unacceptable behaviour.”

A Huddersfield statement said: “We reiterate in the strongest possible terms that Huddersfield Town does not tolerate discrimination or anti-social behaviour of any kind.”