Joe Lolley and Nahki Wells netted to seal David Wagner's first win as Huddersfield Town head coach.

Former Birmingham City junior and keen Aston Villa supporter Lolley struck after just 32 seconds, then Wells ended home hopes with his fifth goal of the season 10 minutes from time.

It was Town's first win in seven Championship games and came after a spell of just one point from 18.

Team news

BIRMINGHAM XI: Kuszczak, Eardley, Morrison, Spector, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Gray, Toral, Brock-Madsen.

HUDDERSFIELD XI: Steer, Smith, Whitehead, Hudson, Scannell, Paterson, Crainie, Huws, Lolley, Wells, Chilwell.

First Half

Town got off to a flying start with a move begun and ended by Joe Lolley, with Jamie Paterson's pass picking out Sean Scannell, who crossed from the right for the former Birmingham junior player to shoot home.

It took a while for the home side to find their feet, but lively wideman Demarai Gray tested Town keeper Jed Steer from distance before Danish frontman Nicolai Brock-Madsen poked a David Davis cross wide.

Paterson shot over from Martin Cranie's tee-up while Lolley drove an effort over on the turn and Nahki Wells had a low shot blocked.

Sky Bet Championship - Birmingham City v Huddersfield Town - Joe Lolley opens the scoring for Town.

Town needed the excellent Dean Whitehead to cut out a Brock-Madsen cross intended for Jon Toral with a calm intercepting header back to Steer, then left-back Ben Chilwell blocked a shot by on-loan Arsenal man Toral.

Lolley had a great chance to notch again from another Scannell cross a minute before the break, but his shot was deflected wide.

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Second half

Former Birmingham loan player Emyr Huws put a rising shot over the bar before picking out Scannell with a neat cross, only for the wideman to miss the target.

But the home fans in the 15,931 crowd (813 Town fans) were still growing restless as their side struggled to make an impression.

Home boss Gary Rowett tried to liven things up with a double substitution, bringing on youngster Viv Solomon-Otabor and ex-Sheffield Wednesday player Jacques Maghoma.

But Town, with Muzzy Carayol replacing scorer Lolley, continued to work hard at both ends of the field to further frustrate their hosts.

Sky Bet Championship - Birmingham City v Huddersfield Town - Joe Lolley opens the scoring for Town.

Whitehead, who had a fine game, was forced off after taking a knock, and Kyle Dempsey came on before Steer's fine save from Toral preserved
Town's lead.

Nahki Wells grabbed the crucial second goal in the 80th minute, side footing home from close range from another Scannell cross.

Ishmael Miller replaced Wells as Town saw out the game and claimed a first clean sheet in seven games.

Good Day

Joe Lolley scored at the home of the club who rejected him as a 16-year-old for the second season running.

The fact that he is an Aston Villa fan and a number of his friends and family support Birmingham City will only have added to his enjoyment.

Bad Day

Gary Rowett has done a great job since replacing former Town boss Lee Clark at St Andrew's, where he was a popular player.

But this was a third defeat running for his side, and their manager cut a clearly frustrated figure from the moment Lolley struck in the first minute.

Big Picture

Town climbed back out of the Championship relegation zone with a first win in seven ahead of key home games against Bristol City and Rotherham United.

Stat of the Day

Birmingham v Huddersfield Town

6

Birmingham shots

13

Huddersfield shots

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