Newcastle lost again

AARON MOOY wrote his name into the Huddersfield history books as he struck the winner in their home Premier League bow.

The John Smith’s Stadium was rocking for what was the Terriers’ first top-flight clash in West Yorkshire in 45 years. And Mooy scored a goal worthy of the occasion, bending in from 18 yards to make it back-to-back wins for Huddersfield – and two straight defeats for Newcastle.

David Wagner’s men more than deserved the three points in this battle between two of the newly-promoted sides.

And the win further showed that the bookies – who all put Huddersfield as their favourites for the drop – could be left red-faced at the end of the season.

For Newcastle, however, it was another worrying display and result in what has been a nightmare return to the top flight.

The Toon finished four places above the Terries in the Championship last season.

But they were comfortably second best at the John Smith’s – and Rafa Benitez must hope owner Mike Ashley now opens up his wallet before the transfer window shuts at the end of this month. In what was a flat first half, Tom Ince had the first chance for Huddersfield, but his shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Rob Elliot.

At the other end, Matt Ritchie forced a save out of Terriers stopper Jonas Lossl.

But the game didn’t really come to life until Mooy’s stunning striker five minutes after the break.

The Aussie was Huddersfield’s stand-out player in last year’s Championship campaign, when he was on loan from Manchester City.

So it was no surprise that boss David Wagner acted quickly to snap Mooy up this summer in a £10million permanent deal.

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS...

• Huddersfield boss David Wagner has a superstition or habit of slapping all of his players and staff on the back of the neck as they walk out to for the game – it worked a treat against the Toon for their flying start.
• Before the game Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle was being hugged by hordes of Terriers fans who chanted his name all around the ground – maybe Newcastle fans should do the same for Mike Ashley?
• After 45 minutes, Huddersfield completed 311 minutes without scoring at the John Smith's Stadium in league competition – they won the play-offs without scoring a goal (Sheffield Wednesday scored an own-goal in their 1-1 semi-final).
• Heading into the game Newcastle had not won three Premier League points away from home since December 2015.
• David Wagner and Aaron Mooy look a dream team but their decision to try short corners while 6ft 4in great Dane Philip Billing is waiting in the box looked crazy.
• Newcastle have been linked with injury-prone striker Andy Carroll who fans once labelled a Judas for leaving – on this showing they’ll be begging the ‘traitor’ to return even half-fit.
• There were 14 passes in the build-up to Mooy's winner - the most in a Premier League goal so far this season - highlighting how poor Newcastle's pressing was.
• Huddersfield won promotion to the Premier League last season with a final Championship goal difference of minus two. Their current Premier League tally is plus four.
• From The Sun