In front of 22,052 supporters, Huddersfield Town fell to a 2-0 defeat against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, with goals from Phil Foden and Savinho sending the Premier League champions into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
For Town boss Lee Grant and his squad, however, the night was about more than the result. Despite being outmatched by elite opposition, Grant praised his side’s discipline, resilience, and collective effort. He stressed the valuable lessons to be taken from facing a team of City’s quality, particularly for the younger players, who gained a taste of the intensity and standards required at the highest level. The experience, he noted, will stand them in good stead as the season unfolds.
Foden and Savinho settle the tie
England midfielder Phil Foden broke the deadlock in the first half, drifting through midfield before finding the bottom corner to put Manchester City ahead. The Terriers, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, worked tirelessly to stay in the contest and created chances of their own, with Ben Wiles testing the goalkeeper, Zépiqueno Redmond going close, and substitute Cameron Ashia striking the post late on. Their efforts kept the tie alive until the closing stages, but Savinho’s well-taken finish midway through the second half secured City’s place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Following the defeat, this is what Lee Grant had to say to the media:
“I’m proud of the group, they worked really hard for each other and remained disciplined throughout. It’s something we can all be collectively proud of. Watching them fight for each other and leave everything on the pitch was something I really enjoyed.”
“We can be satisfied with the moments we had in front of their goalmouth, even if their second goal underlines the level we’re up against. It’s disappointing, but we did manage to limit their opportunities to a degree. It’s a good lesson in terms of the level and intensity required.”
Speaking on missed opportunities, Grant said, “We had some notable chances ourselves — a great one for Wiles, a post and a couple for Zépiqueno — it just wasn’t to be. Cameron also had a chance; it would have been lovely to repay everyone who came to support us if it had gone in.” He added, “No regrets — we have to be satisfied with the work the players put in.”
"If you're Man City, it probably feels like the right result from their perspective, we have to be humble enough to accept that. They deserved the win," Grant shared after the game.
Grant highlighted the contributions of Huddersfield’s younger players, saying, “Dan Vost has been fantastic, working incredibly hard over the last three games, and I’m really pleased for him. It’s also great for the academy to see Sway winning the ball and creating chances. The youngsters have earned their right to be involved, and it’s important they get experience in games like this.”
“These fixtures, Leicester, Sunderland, and now City, have been physically demanding, so our full focus now turns to the weekend at St James’ Park. Hard to say I enjoyed it, but seeing the team give everything on the pitch and fight for each other was extremely satisfying,” he added.
Exeter City test awaits at the weekend
Looking ahead, Huddersfield Town will travel to St James’ Park to face Exeter City on Saturday, September 27, 2025, with a 3:00 PM BST kick-off. Currently 16th in League One, Exeter will provide a stern test for the Terriers as they look to build momentum.
