London: David Wagner is fast shedding his reputation for just being Jurgen Klopp's best friend as his unfashionable Huddersfield side remain top of the Championship with a 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
The 44-year-old German-born former American international -- who surprised many in not joining Klopp at Liverpool but instead taking the job at Huddersfield last November after he stepped down from the Borussia Dortmund reserve coach's post -- was delighted with the application shown by his side.
The victory saw them stay two points clear of Fulham -- who beat bottom side Blackburn 1-0 -- after five matches.
Dutch winger Rajiv van La Parra scored the only goal against the club he left in the close season after a successful loan spell with Huddersfield at the end of the last campaign.
"This has been a very good start to the season but everybody knows how much hard work it was and we will not stop what we did in the past," said Wagner, who was best man at Klopp's wedding and is godfather to his daughter.
"Hard work got us where we are and this will help us to be successful. We only look forward now."
Newcastle beat 10-man Brighton 2-0 for their third successive win after opening with two defeats.
Young captain Jamaal Lascelles and a superb freekick from Jon Jo Shelvey did the damage although Brighton striker Sam Baldock's 55th minute dismissal, for a second bookable offence gave the Seagulls far too much to do.
A good day for Newcastle was rounded off with them flexing their considerable spending power by signing Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy.
Victory for the Magpies -- who won even with first choice striker Dwight Gayle out injured -- sees them climb to fourth, four points off Huddersfield.
Newcastle's two fellow relegated sides from last season both slipped to defeats.
Norwich went down to their first defeat of the campaign, a 3-0 defeat by Birmingham, Clayton Donaldson scoring a brace against a side that lacked a cutting edge without injured striker Cameron Jerome.
However, it will be Champions League winning manager Roberto di Matteo who will have most cause for concern as Aston Villa lost 3-1 at Bristol City.
Villa had taken the lead through Jack Grealish but 'The Robins' Tammy Abrahams, on loan from Chelsea, inspired a fightback scoring one, his sixth of the season, and then setting up Joe Bryan for the second -- Lee Tomlin sealed the win.
Defeat leaves Villa -- who have bought extensively since being relegated including shelling out £12million ($16 million, 14.3 million euros) on striker Ross McCormack -- in 16th place just a point above the relegation places.
Leeds are a point adrift of Villa as their mini-revival was brought to an abrupt halt by Nottingham Forest, who emerged 3-1 winners.