Huddersfield Town 1 Wolves 0: Wagner's January shopping paying off, defensive nous gained post-PNE and more things we learned

Successive victories and successive clean sheets have fired Huddersfield Town up to 15th in the table and given the John Smith's Stadium a distinctly rosy glow.

David Wagner can add Wolves to the list of the conquered and Town are now looking up the table rather than casting anxious looks around shoulders at the pack below.

Nahki Wells scored the only goal of a tight, scrappy encounter to ensure Town took full advantage of a weekend in which Leeds and Reading, the teams immediately above them at the start of the day, took a break from league duties to negotiate FA Cup fixtures.

Here's five things we learned from the game.

Wells displays his striking prowess

Nahki Wells took some criticism from the stands in the second half when he wasn’t able to control the ball and get his shot away in time after being played in beautifully by James Husband. It was a big chance, and in a game of such few opportunities that was always going to be decided by fine margins, it was understandable that a few thought that Town were in danger of letting this one slip through their fingers.

But Wells had a good game leading the line against Jackett’s men, showing some neat touches and linking up well with his teammates.

With Town struggling to create against a Wolves side defending deep and in numbers, he only got one more real opportunity before the end of the game. Undaunted by his previous miss, he seized it, tucking home Husband’s sliding ball with a striker’s unerring instinct.

Great strikers only need a moment to influence games - and Nahki proved a worthy matchwinner.

Wagner shows off his post-January riches

There have been times this season when the manager has looked short of options from the bench, and Town have suffered late in games from not having enough firepower in reserve.

In January, Wagner strengthened his hand with the signing of Karim Matmour on a free transfer and a loan deal for Elvis Manu from Brighton.

Both introduced as second half subs against Wolves, the pair made an instant impact on what was at times a drab spectacle.

Matmour used his eye for a clever pass and ability to find pockets of space, while on the left hand side Manu looked capable of scaring the defence with his powerful running at every turn.

And they were both involved in the build-up to the Wells winner.

It was an inspired change, and one which underlined how the manager’s January shopping has put Town in a much better position for the season’s run-in.

Wins don’t have to be pretty under Wagner

This wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination. It was scrappy, there were long periods when neither side could get a foot on the ball, and there were few real chances of note created by moments of pure quality.

But this was the first time David Wagner had claimed consecutive wins as Huddersfield Town boss.

Town enjoyed the vast majority of possession, but this win was based on patience, breaking down a stubborn Wolves side who are far more defensively minded on the road. It was perhaps no coincidence that the visitors’ best spell of the match came when they were a goal down and were forced to come and attack Town’s goal.

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Defensively, Town were strong - until a few heart in mouth moments late on, and they were deserving of the three points.

This was gritty, rather than free-flowing, but showed that this side are maturing under Wagner. When forced to ground out wins, they can and will.

Town are gaining (and using) some defensive nous

Watching Wells wheel away in celebration after putting Town ahead with under 15 minutes remaining, it was impossible not to hark back to the game at Deepdale, when Town somehow ended up on the losing side despite playing the better football and dominating the game.

That day ended in disappointment and frustration as Preston capitalised on some individual errors to score twice late on.

However, against Wolves the players were clearly determined to avoid the same fate.

Winning a corner in the last five minutes, they interchanged passes on the wing rather than lump the ball straight into the box. When the strategy was rewarded with a free kick, only three Town players were inside the penalty area.

Although Harry Bunn should have made it two and sealed the points, Town didn’t go all out for a second and leave themselves exposed. Instead, they worked at protecting a lead - even if Jed Steer was asked to play a full part in the closing stages to prevent an equaliser.

Wagner couldn’t disguise his delight - for two weeks in a row now his players have shown they have learnt lessons in seeing games out.

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We need to talk about Joel Lynch

It is impossible to mention the Town defence without a word for Joel Lynch. The centre back gave an outstanding display and for 90 minutes looked as if any Wolves player getting a shooting chance was a personal affront.

Unassailable in the air, he made two clearances and a further block that were crucial to Town’s cause, but his display was far, far more than that.

He gave the back line a look of almost impregnability, and Wolves players were thwarted time and again.

He received a deserved standing ovation in the opening 45 minutes when he matched Sigurdarson for pace, hustled him towards the sidelines and then robbed the ball - before winning the foul.

It was a superb piece of defending and epitomised how good a day he had. Wagner revealed afterwards that he had trained away from the group for several sessions this week due to some small problems, but it was only cramp that caused him to limp slightly in the game’s closing stages.

Every Town fan will be hoping that he is ready and raring to go on Tuesday night.