Nahki Wells came good on his promise to kick-start his season on Saturday when he fired in both goals to lead Huddersfield Town to a much needed 2-1 win over Millwall at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Bermuda striker recovered from an early booking for kicking the ball away by turning in a man-of-the-match performance that not only guided the West Yorkshire side out of the relegation places in the Sky Bet Championship, but also gave Chris Powell his first win as manager since taking over the position on September 3.

Wells blasted Huddersfield ahead in the 37th minute with a stunning, left-foot half-volley, his first goal since scoring the opener in a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic on August 23.

However, the lead would stand up for only four minutes as the Huddersfield defence, the leakiest in the division but for Fulham’s, was breached by Edward Upson.

Wells appeared to take this personally and almost had Huddersfield in front again just before the break, but the fists of David Forde, in the Millwall goal, proved his equal.

Roared on by a crowd of 11,712 who had not seen Huddersfield win at home all season, Wells picked up from where he left off with a ferocious performance that so nearly led to a second booking and sending-off. But before that, the former Bradford City striker netted his sixth goal in nine matches.

Harry Bunn’s trickery inside the area was too much for Alan Dunne in the 56th minute and Wells, now entrusted with penalty duties once Adam Clayton left for Middlesbrough in the summer transfer window, made no mistake.

Huddersfield had no worries the rest of the way and came close to adding a third, but Bunn’s half-volley was just wide.

With half an hour remaining, Powell gave a debut to Grant Holt, the former Norwich City striker who is on loan from Wigan Athletic by way of Aston Villa, to form the sort of little-and-large front two that Wells so flourished in while at Bradford.

The partnership yielded no goals on this occasion but the signs were good enough before Wells left to a standing ovation in the first minute of stoppage time.

The result moves Huddersfield two places to 20th over Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City, who both suffered defeat at home.

Next up for Wells and Co is a midweek journey to Molineux on Wednesday to face high-flying Wolverhampton Wanderers.

About 170 miles farther south on the outskirts of London, Reggie Lambe was making his first start for Mansfield Town away to Stevenage in League Two.

Lambe, on his return to English football after a spell with Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, was given a debut as a substitute last weekend in a 3-2 win at home to Carlisle United.

But Mansfield’s away form to start the season has not been good and they were two goals down inside five minutes at the Lamex Stadium. The Bermuda midfielder was one of two who paid the price at half-time, as manager Graham Westley rang the changes, but Stevenage ran out 3-0 winners.