Manchester City were held to a rare goalless draw at the Etihad as Huddersfield grabbed a valuable point on the day the champions received the Premier League trophy.
The champions lacked their usual ferocity and had to settle for a goalless draw against a Huddersfield side who dug in for a result that could be critical in their battle to avoid relegation.
City had gone into the game on the brink of breaking Premier League records for most wins, most goals and most points in a season but all three were put on hold.
For the Terriers, with tough final games against Chelsea and Arsenal to come, the unexpected point was hugely welcome, putting them in touching distance of safety.
They had to work hard for it, though, as City, despite lacking their usual intensity, dominated possession in their customary manner.
David Silva tested Jonas Lossl in the early stages and Kevin De Bruyne fired wide from the edge of the area but Huddersfield generally coped well with their advances and carried some threat themselves.
City sent on Benjamin Mendy and Ilkay Gundogan but they struggled to create a threat.
As time wore on, Huddersfield began to sense they could snatch an unlikely point. When Tommy Smith was booked for delaying the taking of a free-kick just after the hour it was clear they hoped they could hold out.
Huddersfield might have nicked all three points after a late breakaway but Ederson saved from Scott Malone.
Reaction
Huddersfield defender Mathias Jorgensen admitted it was a tough afternoon for his side but added the reward of a point was well worth the effort.
"Chasing City is horrible but when it's all said and done and you come away with a clean sheet, it's worth it," he told Sky Sports.
"It's great, coming here we had a belief that we could keep the clean sheet and I think the boys did brilliantly. We needed a bit of luck at a tough place like this but we got it and we're, of course, really happy with a point."
Huddersfield are three points clear of the relegation zone with two games left.
Jorgensen added: "The confidence is the most important thing. This point and confidence we take from here means we know we can get it against the best in the league.
"The belief is as strong as it's been all year long."
Match Stats
- Manchester City are without a home league win against Huddersfield since November 1987 (D2 L2 since), though this was the first such meeting since 1999.
- Indeed, that victory in 1987 was a 10-1 mauling, but City haven’t scored a single goal in any of their four home league matches against the Terriers since.
- Man City have only failed to score in two previous home Premier League games under Guardiola - vs Stoke in March 2017 and vs Man Utd in April 2017.
- This was only Pep’s 25th 0-0 draw as a manager of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, in what was his 519th game.
- Huddersfield are the first side since Chelsea in April 2014 to stop the team at the top of the table from scoring at home in the Premier League (Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea).
- The Terriers are also the first promoted side to stop Manchester City scoring at the Etihad since Reading won 2-0 in February 2007.
- Huddersfield have failed to score in 20 of their 36 Premier League games this season. Only two sides have ever failed to score in more – Derby County (22 in 2007-08) and Leeds United (21 in 1996-97).
- In fact, Huddersfield have been goalless in 13 Premier League away trips this season – a joint-record (also Norwich City 1994-95, Southampton 1998-99 and Middlesbrough 2002-03).
- Scott Malone’s 91st minute strike was Huddersfield’s first shot since the 30th minute and the first shot on target in the game since the 35th minute.