EPL: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Manchester City

Sterling celebrates scoring City's second.

Manchester City restored their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town.

Town made three alterations to their line-up, with Tommy Smith, Christopher Schindler and Jonathan Hogg replacing Florent Hadergjonaj, Martin Cranie and Elias Kachunga.

Meanwhile, City made two changes to the side which beat Leicester 2-0 last weekend, with Nicolas Otamendi replacing the injured John Stones and Sergio Aguero preferred in attack to Gabriel Jesus.

Aguero had a goal ruled out for offside 13 minutes in as he converted a ball in from the right flank, while a quick Town counter ended with Tommy Smith shooting over from 20 yards.

Midway through the first half Leroy Sane flashed a ball across the face of goal from the left, but no-one was there to convert.

Eleven minutes before the break a slick move almost released Aguero, but Chris Schindler got back in the nick of time to snuff out the danger, while an Otamendi drive from 25 yards flew just over the crossbar.

Aguero was then denied by keeper Jonas Lossl as City cranked up the pressure, although the hosts remained a threat on the counter.

And right on the stroke of half-time a near-post corner from Tom Ince from the right was flicked on and Otamendi deflected the ball into his own net to send the Terriers fans wild.

Within a minute of the restart City won a penalty as Raheem Sterling was pulled back in the area by Scott Malone and Aguero made no mistake from the spot to send Lossl the wrong way and net the equaliser.

Sane then came within inches of giving the Citizens the lead as he rattled the crossbar with a superb left-footed free-kick from 25 yards out.

The visitors were now in charge of the play, dominating possession, but Town remained resolute as they defended deep and in numbers.

However, the crucial goal came six minutes from time as Lossl did well to block a shot from substitute Gabriel Jesus but the rebound hit Sterling and looped into the net.

There was time for added drama after the final whistle as Rajiv van La Parra was red-carded for an altercation with Sane, who was booked.