HUDDERSFIELD Town notched a sensational first away win of the Championship season in a feisty and controversial Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough to romp into the top six.

Oliver Norwood and Lee Novak put Town two goals up before Reda Johnson hit back for the home side.

Town’s Joel Lynch and Wednesday’s Joe Mattock were then sent off before half-time, and in the second half Adam Clayton sealed Wednesday’s first home defeat since February with a 70th minute penalty.

Town made an enforced change with Wolves loan man Adam Hammill unable to make the starting line-up because of the injury which forced him off in the 1-0 home win over Derby County.

Striker Lee Novak got the nod to partner James Vaughan up front in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

Adam Clayton was deployed on the right side of midfield and Danny Ward on the left, with Keith Southern and Oliver Norwood patrolling central midfield.

Wednesday, bidding to add to their impressive home record over the past 12 months, made three changes with Reda Johnson, Gary Madine and Ross Barkley being drafted into the Owls’ starting line-up following their 3-0 defeat at Brighton last Friday.

Wednesday started brightly with Michail Antonio looking a threat down the right and the Owls forced three corners in the first four minutes to crank up the pressure.

From one of them Town’s Paul Dixon made a terrific covering tackle on Antonio, and the visitors were lucky to escape when Martin Taylor crashed a header against the bar.

Click on the link below to see a match action gallery featuring the goals, cards and celebrations from the game

Town withstood the storm and had a half chance themselves on 12 minutes when a long ball gave Novak a shooting opportunity but his effort went wide.

The match fired into life in the 15th minute when firstly Vaughan hammered a cracking 20 yard volley against bar with keeper Chris Kirkland stranded and before Wednesday could gather their composure Jack Hunt raided down the right and was brought down in the box by Jermaine Johnson.

Referee Graham Salisbury had no hesitation to pointing to the spot and while Kirkland beat out Norwood’s spot kick, he could not prevent the former Manchester United midfielder following up to register his first goal for the club.

Town’s 2,500-strong travelling contingent were still celebrating when their side went two ahead in spectacular style.

Southern, again digging in, won possession and spread the ball wide to find Ward and the winger took one touch and delivered a fierce curling cross which Novak met with a bullet diving header which flew into the roof of the net.

The goal left Hillsborough stunned and barely 90 seconds later the scorer illustrated Town’s determination by chasing back into his own half to prevent Antonio breaking clear.

But the Owls went close when Jermaine Johnson had an effort charged down by Town skipper Peter Clarke.

Town reacted on the half hour when Ward burst through and he sent a fierce rising drive just over bar from 20 yards.

On 33 minutes Town keeper Alex Smithies was called on to make a smart save from Antonio, but Wednesday maintained the pressure and found the net when Reda Johnson headed in at the far post.

The atmosphere was no electric as Town suffered a massive blow when centre back Joel Lynch was shown a straight red card for a lunging foul on Antonio, in a challenge which looked more mistimed than malicious.

Referee Salisbury then went across the pitch to talk with Town boss Grayson, who was complaining about decision.

Grayson immediately sent on Anthony Gerrard to fill in at centre back for striker Novak.

Gerrard was booked for taking the field before he was waved on by the official and captain Clarke subsequently for dissent.

The home side’s Joe Mattock was then cautioned for a late challenge and teammate Jay Bothroyd joined him in the book for a similar offence.

Mattock’s indiscretion was to prove costly in an eventful five minutes of stoppage time.

After Antonio had sent a stinging shot just wide, Mattock chased back and felled Ward from behind and received a second yellow card followed by a red.

After the high octane finish to the first half, the home side sent on Slovenian international midfielder Nejc Pecnik in place of Madine and both teams opted to quieten things down.

Pecnik prodded a couple of shots wide as Town got pushed deeper into their own territory, while Reda Johnson headed inches wide.

Town put the seal on victory with a controversial 70th minute penalty awarded by assistant referee Barry Gordon after referee Salisbury had initially turned down a handball appeal against McCabe as he blocked Hunt’s cross.

Clayton stepped up and, as Town’s fourth penalty taker of the season, he sent Kirkland the wrong way and Town’ fans into a wild celebration.

On 82 minutes Reda Johnson missed an open goal when three yards out to deny his side a late lifeline.

Both teams observed a minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of those who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster 23 years ago, and also for the two soldiers killed this week from the Yorkshire regiment – one of whom was 18-year-old Town fan Private Thomas Wroe.