Nahki Wells gave away a penalty as Huddersfield Town were beaten 3-1 at home by Sky Bet Championship leaders Newcastle United on Saturday.

Wells, the Huddersfield striker, tripped Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie who picked himself up to send goalkeeper Danny Ward the wrong way from the spot in the tenth minute.

Michael Hefele then headed wide and Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow saved well from Philip Billing as the home side went close to an equaliser in front of a record league crowd of 23,213 at the John Smith’s Stadium.

But they instead fell further behind when Daryl Murphy, the Newcastle forward, beat the offside trap and nicked the ball away from Ward before slotting it through the goalkeeper’s legs from a tight angle.

Huddersfield had to bring on Joel Coleman for Ward, who picked up a thigh injury, at the break but they camped in the Newcastle half and deservedly pulled one back when Jonjo Shelvey brought down Elias Kachunga and Aaron Mooy coolly scored from the spot.

But substitute Marcus Gayle, fit again after a hamstring injury, settled it for Newcastle, who now travel to fifth-placed Reading tomorrow, in stoppage time when he tapped into an open goal after Coleman slipped when trying to head a long punt clear as he retreated after going up for a Huddersfield corner.

David Wagner, the Huddersfield head coach, said: “I’m not sure about the first penalty. I think there was a handball before it and for the second goal Danny Ward touched the ball and had it under control and he got attacked.

“Ward then got a knock and we had to take him off at half-time. So many situations went against us. I told the players I have no complaints and I am very proud.

“There are some very smart and intelligent players in the dressing room and they know we were very unlucky.”

Bermudian Rai Simons was an unused substitute in Chesterfield’s 1-0 win away to Swindon Town in League One.

Substitute Reece Mitchell struck in the third minute of time added on as Chesterfield bolstered their survival hopes to leave them eight points from safety.

Meanwhile, Reggie Lambe came off at half-time in Carlisle United’s 2-0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle in League Two.

Second-placed Plymouth soared seven points clear of promotion rivals Carlisle after beating them at Home Park.

Playmaker Graham Carey fired Plymouth into a 21st-minute lead before Jake Jervis made it 2-0 from the spot just before the interval. Carlisle remain third despite a third successive defeat, while Plymouth moved to within four points of leaders Doncaster Rovers.

Freddy Hall’s Limerick endured a frustrating night away to Derry City at Maginn Park in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Friday.

The sold-out match had been tied 1-1 after 25 minutes when the floodlights went out, with the match having to be abandoned.

Newly promoted Limerick, fresh from their 5-1 opening night victory at home to Sligo Rovers, had taken the lead thanks to winger Dean Clarke after six minutes.

However, Derry equalised 12 minutes later through a free kick from Ronan Curtis.

The top-of-the-table clash was then halted abruptly when the floodlights failed and some minutes later, it was announced that the game was being called off.

Limerick players, management and supporters were left frustrated as they faced a 460-mile, ten-hour round trip to Buncrana in County Donegal.

Derry City are using Maginn Park for their home fixtures at the start of the season as redevelopment work is continuing on their Brandywell home.

The fixture has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 21 at Maginn Park.