The win enabled Huddersfield to inch two points clear of the field after defeats for Newcastle United and Barnsley, the teams who had started the afternoon as their nearest pursuers.
Rafa Benitez's Newcastle saw their progress rudely checked after five successive victories with a shock 2-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Chancel Mbemba's own goal on 29 minutes and a brilliant strike from Helder Costa earned the points for Walter Zenga's team.
Barnsley were beaten 2-1 by Jaap Stam's Reading, who extended their unbeaten run to five matches despite having to play for 56 minutes with only 10 men following the dismissal of their early goalscorer Garath McCleary.
The slip-ups enabled Norwich City, who came from behind to win 2-1 at Nottingham Forest thanks to a superb 20-metre winner from Graham Dorrans, to move into second place.
(Reporting by Ian Chadband, editing by Neil Robinson)
