Huddersfield Town got back to winning ways in the Sky Bet Championship, beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 away from home on Saturday.

A Matt Mills own-goal and a wonder strike from Philip Billing were enough to give David Wagner’s side their first win in five games.

Forest in contrast were unbeaten in 13 games going into the game, but ended up on the wrong end of a Huddersfield performance that Wagner, the Huddersfield coach, called “nearly perfect.”

“We spoke about the importance of defence, as we are always able to score,” Wagner said. “We did the little things right today.

“I’m very happy with this performance. It’s one thing to say it and another to do it.”

Huddersfield got off to the perfect start when Mills, the Forest captain, under pressure from Nahki Wells turned the ball into his own net with 14 minutes gone. Harry Bunn had a chance to further Huddersfield’s lead a minute later, but his effort from Wells’s pass was blocked.

Wells had several opportunities of his own to score today, but sent a couple of efforts wide, and glanced a late header just over the bar.

In between, Huddersfield were largely the better side, although Gary Gardner and Nélson Oliveira both missed good chances in the first half.

The second half was more of the same, with Forest desperately pressing for the equaliser and Oliveira missed two opportunities to get his side back in the match.

Billing made the home side pay for their wastefulness upfront, with a pile-driver from 30-yards out with six minutes left.

It was the 19-year-old’s first goal for the club at senior level.

“I told Philip [Billing] before the game that he should shoot more than he did against Preston. It was a brilliant moment,” Wagner said.

In League Two, Reggie Lambe was an unused substitute as Mansfield Town slumped to a 3-0 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle.

Ryan Brunt scored twice after Greg Wylde had opened the scoring in the 33 minute, and victory leaves Plymouth second still five points behind Northampton Town.

Mansfield, meanwhile, are in danger of falling out of the play-off places after their second consecutive defeat left them in seventh on 48 points, a point ahead of Bristol Rovers, but having played two games more.