Nahki Wells netted for the second time in as many Championship matches to make it five wins in six and bring delight for Huddersfield Town’s travelling army of fans.

There were 3,892 in a 13,480 crowd at Wigan Athletic, where the Bermudian struck after 81 minutes to keep his side’s promotion bid on the boil.

Wells scored in stoppage time to salvage a draw against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, when Town dominated.

This time, his seventh goal of the season brought all three points in a contest which was far more even.

It was a third consecutive away win for Town, a sixth of the season on the road and a 14th overall in match number 25.

Video Loading

This was a second game in three days, and boss David Wagner’s rotation policy really kicked in, with no fewer than seven changes after the 1-1 home draw with Blackburn.

In came Martin Cranie, Jon Gorenc Stankovic, captain Mark Hudson, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Philip Billing, Jack Payne and Harry Bunn.

Tommy Smith, Michael Hefele, Chris Lowe, Dean Whitehead and Kasey Palmer dropped to the bench while Christopher Schindler was rested and Rajiv van La Parra ruled out with a knee injury.

Town were trying to exploit Wigan’s dismal recent record, with Saturday’s goalless draw at Derby County following five successive defeats since the Latics’ 2-1 victory over Wagner’s men at the John Smith’s Stadium in November.

Wigan, second from bottom beforehand, had lost their previous five matches at the DW Stadium and failed to score in seven of their last nine home games.

The Latics made the early running and forced two corners in the opening three minutes, with Aaron Mooy heading both of them clear.

Town, looking a little hesitant on a bobbly surface, also had to deal with a couple of free-kicks pumped into their penalty area.

When Nick Powell broke from midfield in the 11th minute, Hudson was on hand to shepherd the ball back to keeper Danny Ward as Yanic Wildschut lurked.

Former Manchester United man Powell was causing the visitors a few problems, with Billing booked for fouling him.

Video Loading

When Town did manage to get a delivery into the Wigan area, 41-year-old keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen calmly collected Cranie’s deep cross towards Nahki Wells.

Wagner’s side were struggling to get their passing game going, and were unable to make anything of a 27th-minute corner won by the busy Cranie.

Mooy’s flag kick found its way to Payne, but the former Southend United man sliced his effort well off target.

Bunn drove wide from the edge of the area before Holmes-Dennis made a vital headed clearance as Wildschut rose to meet a Jacobs cross in the 33rd minute.

Wigan Athletic vs Huddersfield Town, 02.01.17: Town's Jack Payne jumps over Wigan Athletic's Stephen Warnock.
Wigan Athletic vs Huddersfield Town, 02.01.17: Town's Jack Payne jumps over Wigan Athletic's Stephen Warnock.

Wigan’s Jacobs drove over from distance while home defender Jake Buxton steered a tricky Mooy cross to safety.

Mooy then went into referee Jeremy Simpson’s book for a foul on Will Grigg in first-half stoppage time.

Town made a lively start to the second half, but another Mooy corner was cleared while Wigan stood firm against a couple of neat crosses from Holmes-Dennis. The Town left-back was then booked for illegally halting a Wildschut counter-attack in the 55th minute.

Joe Lolley replaced Bunn after 59 minutes, making his first appearance since suffering a foot injury in August.

Video Loading

Wildschut lashed a 64th-minute drive narrowly wide as the game started to open up a touch.

Wagner made his second change, Whitehead for Billing, on 66 minutes.

Soon after Jake Buxton’s tackle thwarted Payne as he chased an Elias Kachunga pass.

Stankovic was yellow carded for a 78th-minute foul on Jacobs, who had himself been booked for bringing down Wells - the latter's persistence almost bringing a mistake from Jaaskelainen soon after.

The breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute, when Wells finished after the Finnish keeper could only parry Kachunga’s drive.

Michael Hefele replaced Payne ahead of four minutes of stoppage time.