Cardiff started their new era with a win as captain Mark Hudson's injury-time strike sealed a 1-0 victory and denied Huddersfield a deserved point at Cardiff City Stadium.
Hudson thundered home when the ball fell to him in the penalty area to give Cardiff, playing in their new red strip for the first time in a competitive fixture, the three points on a night that had looked set to end in frustration.
The result was harsh on the Terriers, who looked assured on their return to the npower Championship, with the impressive Oliver Norwood and Scott Arfield forcing excellent saves from Cardiff keeper David Marshall, but it was not enough.
The Terriers crafted an early opening down the right for Arfield from Novak's pass, but Marshall made a sharp, low save to deny him.
The Scotland international was called into action again after 12 minutes as Norwood was given far too much time to line up a strike from distance, Marshall parrying his fierce drive.
Norwood almost gave the Terriers the lead six minutes before the break but his wonderful dipping volley was tipped away by an agile save from Marshall as the opening half ended with a burst of activity.
Heidar Helguson hit the bar after Ben Turner headed a Craig Bellamy corner back across goal, while the lively Norwood could not control Sean Scannell's cross after the midfielder had rounded Marshall.
The hosts then spurned a great opportunity on 64 minutes. Alex Smithies failed to hold Jordon Mutch's angled drive and Helguson looked certain to tap in, only for the covering Peter Clarke to brilliantly deny the forward.
It was Smithies' turn to help out Clarke seven minutes later after Bellamy had tricked his way past the centre-half, the keeper making a sprawling stop to deny Kevin McNaughton from the Wales international's pull-back.
Marshall pushed an Arfield effort around the post from Keith Southern's pass while substitute Joe Mason blazed over for the hosts with what appeared to be their last chance, until Hudson came to the rescue.
Source: PA
