Swansea City 1-0 Huddersfield Town: Joel Piroe gives Russell Martin first home league win
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Joel Piroe celebrates his sixth goal of the season
Swansea City boss Russell Martin celebrated a first home league victory as Joel Piroe's goal proved enough to see off Huddersfield Town.
Martin's side had drawn three and lost one of their four Championship games on their own ground this season.
But Piroe's composed finish was reward for Swansea's first-half dominance.
Carlos Corberan's Huddersfield slipped to a third defeat in their last four games as they created little despite an improved showing after the break.
The Terriers stay seventh in the table, while Swansea climb to 17th after winning in the Championship for only the second time under Martin.
The Welsh club had played some good football in front of their own fans in the early stages of Martin's reign, but a return of one goal - and three points - from four home league fixtures before this was concerning for the former MK Dons boss.
Hence relief shone through in his celebration as Swansea broke the deadlock with the first chance of the afternoon.
Piroe laid the ball off to Jamie Paterson before spinning to meet a fine return pass.
He finished with a touch of class on his weaker right foot, waiting for the bouncing ball to come down before steering a shot beyond Lee Nicholls.
Paterson should have had a goal of his own three minutes later, but fired wastefully wide when one-on-one with Nicholls after Huddersfield had lost possession in their own defensive third.
Piroe then turned well in the penalty area to shoot too close to Nicholls, before another effort - after good work from Oliver Ntcham - was expertly saved by the Huddersfield goalkeeper.
Swansea's Ben Cabango battles with Huddersfield's Sorba Thomas
Huddersfield's first threat came early in the second half, as Danel Sinani cut inside and shot wide of the post from 20 yards, though the spotlight soon returned to Nicholls as he made another good stop to deny Flynn Downes.
Corberan's men made much more of a contest of the second half, with Harry Toffolo going closest to an equaliser when he headed over from Sorba Thomas' corner.
Swansea substitute Liam Cullen tapped home in stoppage time only to be denied by the offside flag, but the decision did not matter as his team held on for a fifth clean sheet in nine league games and a timely victory.
Swansea head coach Russell Martin:
"It was more tense than it should have been second half. I think the first half was outstanding. Some of the play, the intensity we played at, the way we pressed, how many times we won the ball high up the pitch.
"We are played against a team that is excellent and are conditioned to play that way - their energy didn't drop and ours did a little bit. I think that's the biggest difference between the two teams.
"But we should score more goals in the first half and that makes the second half a lot easier. We've limited a really good team to no shots on target. The players have done that with desire and effort.
"We should have more control in the second half but that's coming. I have said to you all the way along - I am not blagging you or using it as an excuse - that once we are conditioned to where we want to be, hopefully you will see the first-half performance for much longer periods."
Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan:
"I think Swansea competed better in the first half. The more clear chances in the first half arrive from our mistakes in managing the ball. We didn't find the solution to the way we press.
"We lost the organisation in defence when they scored and that was the only moment.
"We needed to manage better in the second half. The team competed better in the second half - we were winning more second balls.
"The level of competition in the Championship is high. I know Swansea didn't win a [home] game before this, but I analysed their games and I know they had opportunities to win."
