Huddersfield Town 0 Burnley 1
Vincent Kompany got off to a positive start with a win in his first game as leader of a Burnley side still coming to terms with relegation from the Premier League.
A dominant display in the first half yielded a goal for Dutch debutant Ian Maatsen and it proved enough for Kompany and his new team.
Much has changed for both clubs since the end of last season, when Huddersfield lost to Nottingham Forest in the championship play-off final and Burnley were relegated after six years in the top tier. Carlos Corberan left John Smith’s Stadium out of concerns about the size of his budget and was replaced by first-team coach Danny Schofield. Captain Lewis O’Brien and goalscorer Harry Toffolo were also sold to Forest for a combined sum of around £10 million.
Meanwhile, Burnley named Kompany, the former Belgian defender who led Manchester City to four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. Key players such as James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Nick Pope may have left, but the visitors, with five of the nine new signings in their starting lineup, dominated the first half.
Supported by a raw, sold-out away game, they blasted the ball around with a swagger and led through Maatsen in the 18th minute. The 20-year-old Chelsea left-back who was loaned out swept a right footed shot low into the far corner to complete a well-crafted move he had started himself.
The odds piled up in front of Huddersfield’s goal, with Connor Roberts making a fine save from goalkeeper Lee Nicholls after getting the nimble pass from Jack Cork.
Huddersfield picked up the pace after the break and Burnley had to be on the back foot for a long time, but the hosts couldn’t afford their possession.
Match details
Huddersfield City (4-2-3-1): Nichols; Turton, Edmonds-Green (Nakayama 89), Lees, Ruffels; Russell (Kasumu 72, Rhodes 89), Hogg; Thomas, Holmes (Anjorin 56), Koroma (Rudoni 56); Department.
Subscribers: Chapman (g), Jackson.
Booked: kasumi.
Burnley (4-3-3): Murian; Roberts, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor, Maats; Cork, Cullen, Bastien (Twine 70); Brownhill, Barnes, Costelloe (Vitinho 74).
Subscribers: Peacock-Farrell (g), Egan-Riley, McNally, Phillips, Dodgson.
Booked: Cullen, Taylor.
Referee: James Linington (Newport)