The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
These title celebrations have been curiously drawn out.
This time there was none of the edge-of-the-seat drama that so famously brought City their first Premier League title, when Sergio Aguero scored with virtually the last kick of the season against QPR in 2012.
City won the league three weeks earlier without playing when closest rivals Manchester United surprisingly lost at home to West Brom.
Our Time. Our City. Our Trophy ? #mancity pic.twitter.com/XvYWzgAUcT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 6, 2018
Since then City have enjoyed comfortable wins over Swansea and West Ham, but on Sunday there was no hint of Huddersfield showing the champions too much respect when the contest finally kicked off.
– Wilting –
Victory would have guaranteed Huddersfield safety and another season of top flight football.
David Wagner’s men might have been on course for just such an upset result in an entertaining, if goalless, first half but Ederson denied Florent Hadergjonaj and Alex Pritchard.
A City side that had been held goalless in just one previous league game — a draw at Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve — inevitably carved out chances of their own with Jonas Lossl saving well at David Silva’s feet after five minutes and, unknowingly, stopping a fierce Kevin De Bruyne shot.
By the interval, Huddersfield were visibly wilting in the Manchester heat and facing the prospect of a long second half of attrition.
Bumps for the boss! ? #mancity pic.twitter.com/TO1lb05kjS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 6, 2018
City started brightly, with Christopher Schindler clearing off his line from a scramble at a Leroy Sane corner, but otherwise Huddersfield defended manfully and substitute Scott Malone might even have snatched a dramatic injury-time winner for the visitors.
But Guardiola’s heartfelt congratulations to his opposite number Wagner on the final whistle, demonstrated the importance of the point to the visitors who now join Everton and Manchester United as the only sides to have avoided defeat at the Etihad in the league this season.
