Last seasons running of this fixture saw, already champions Manchester City, held to a goal-less draw. Whether that was down to a good Huddersfield defensive shape, or whether it was more of the party atmosphere already floating around the Etihad, can be argued. Sundays game, though, will be much different.
The new season is still in its infancy and to fall behind your title rivals, by any significant amount, would be bad. You would have to go all the way back to a completely different Manchester City side in 1999.
Losing 1-0 to the Terriers after City had been promoted from the third tier of English football, City actually went on to complete back to back promotions. Ex Huddersfield, and now Manchester City super Captain, Andy Morrison, was missing from that particular fixture.
Players Shared:
Alongside Andy Morrison, who joined Manchester City in the third tier directly from Huddersfield, there have been a number of players both fans have seen in their colors. Aaron Mooy, of course, is another. Now cemented as a star for the Terriers, the Aussie-born midfielder was a City player if only on paper.
Prior to Mooy, Ishmael Miller made the move from City to Town. An exciting youth prospect, Miller never really made the step up to Manchester City's first team. Yes he had a few games, but nothing to secure his transition fully into the squad. Moving to West Brom, then Nottingham Forest Miller found it tough to find a club.
Never really a prolific striker eventually he found himself at Huddersfield for a season and a half. Four goals in 37 appearances saw him released as his contract expired at the end of 2015-16. Now at Oldham, in the fourth tier, the 31 year old is coming to the last knockings of his career.
Lee Croft played for City from 2004 for two seasons, spending half his time out on loan, before moving on. Finding his way to Derby County via Norwich, he was loaned out to Huddersfield. Other names, probably more recognizable to long time Manchester City fans would be Andy Dibble and Neil McNab.
Both players spent multiple years at City, with the pair spending two seasons together before McNab left for Tranmere in 1990. Loaned to Huddersfield in 1992 he was not only playing, but scored, in that 10-1 victory at Maine Road in November of 1987.
For Dibble, it was slightly different. Although at City for a long time, he found himself out on loan numerous times. Making only 116 Manchester City appearances in his nine seasons, with 69 League appearances in his first two seasons! Interestingly he now finds himself as Cardiff City's goalkeeping coach, so it will be interesting to see him back at the club later in the season.
Many years before all of those was a guy by the name of Peter Doherty. Born in Ireland in 1913 he made his debut for Manchester City in 1936, helping us to our first title in the 1936-37 season. Scoring 30 goals in 41 games for the Blues, including two at home to Huddersfield in March of that season.
Managers Shared:
Just the two head coaches between the two clubs, Brian Horton and Mel Machin. Machin was the first, taking over Manchester City in 1987. His first two seasons with the Blues were in the second tier of English football. Gaining promotion in that second season. He was in the home dugout for that 10-1 defeat of Huddersfield (his first season). After getting us promotion to the top tier again, and two months before moving on, Machin was again in the home dugout for another big result.
The game known as the Maine Road massacre saw one of the biggest defeats of United by Manchester City. Remaining one of the greatest wins over our City rivals until Roberto Mancini led us to a 6-1 win at their place more than two decades later.
Horton arrived a little later, but lasted less time. Coming in after a poor start by Peter Reid saw him sacked, Horton was hired and kept us in the newly formed Premiership. His second season, the third of the Premiership era, saw another season end at the wrong end of the table.
A good start to that season saw talk of European football returning, but a poor second half had us finish only four points against the relegation zone. The following season would see only twenty sides make up the top flight. Francis Lee became Chairman with his friend, Alan Ball, installed as manager.
Two seasons later, Horton would bring his new side, Huddersfield, to Maine Road with City on their fourth manager of the season. A goalless draw wouldn't be good for either side with another manager for City, and another draw, in the return fixture.
Games Between The Two:
Obviously minds go straight to that 10-1 victory in 1987. The sides have only met 78 times in the last 80 years with the first game taking place in November 1920. Manchester City won that game 1-0 and the return game, in Manchester 3-2.
Despite this, the sides have actually been quite evenly matched over the years. Thirty drawn games between the two, with Manchester City winning 26 and Huddersfield 22 of the remainder. One of our biggest defeats actually happened at Maine Road in 1926, losing 5-1. Relegated that season in a 'typical City' way.
The closest fixture between the two came on the 22nd August, 1951. Away from Maine Road, the Blues lost 5-1 in the second game of the season. Huddersfield were relegated that season, and Spurs finished second!
On a side note, I want to also acknowledge Les 'Chappy' Chapman in this segment. Long time kit man for the Blues, he now can be seen on CityTV. In 1969 until 1974 though, he was a Terrier, scoring eight times in the 134 games from midfield.
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