Owls undone
Goals either side of half time from Martin Paterson and Adam Clayton ensured maximum points for Huddersfield in the early Championship kick-off in S6.
Connor Wickham pulled a late goal back at the last but it was too little too late, with the Owls creating little throughout a derby contest that Town deserved to win.
And with both teams seeking a route away from the wrong end of the Championship table, there were changes all round at Hillsborough.
For Wednesday, Dave Jones handed a maiden start to Arsenal loanee Damian Martinez, while Joe Mattock came in for Reda Johnson at left back.
Miguel Llera was installed at the heart of the defence and for the visitors, talisman James Vaughan returning after suspension was one of six changes after the Terriers’ recent defeat to Birmingham.
And it was Huddersfield that struck first blood on ten minutes. Clayton found space on the edge of the area and fed Paterson, who turned to drill firmly into the bottom corner – although there was a suspicion of offside.
Nonetheless, that strike gave Town the impetus, which they took on board and largely bossed the first half, safe in the knowledge of their advantage.
The Owls saw plenty of possession but struggled to make a true impact moving forward and needed a boost after the break.
Jermaine Johnson and Giles Coke came on for the resumption but it was Huddersfield that threatened first as Vaughan struck the outside of the post with a snapshot from close range.
Wednesday grew into the game and Matty Fryatt was a whisker away from converting a Jermaine Johnson cross before the Jamaican international forced Alex Smithies into a flying save after escaping two defenders.
But on 68 minutes, Town extended their lead against the run of play. A fizzing ball inside the penalty area found its way to the onrushing Clayton, who shot across Martinez and home.
It was hard on Wednesday, who had asked more of the questions but without reward until Wickham's late hit in added time.
But for Town, it was a case of taking their chances and that they did in both halves to emerge with all three points.
Owls: Martinez, Buxton, Roger Johnson, Llera, Mattock (Maghoma 74), Antonio (Jermaine Johnson 46), McPhail (Coke 46), Semedo, Helan, Fryatt, Wickham
Huddersfield: Smithies, Dixon, Norwood, Hogg, Clayton (Gobern 90), Vaughan, Hammill, Paterson (Richards 89), Smith, Lynch, Gerrard