Substitute Stephen Elliott scored his first two goals for Norwich City as the League One leaders completed a dramatic comeback to inflict Huddersfield Town's first home defeat of the season.

The Canaries scored three times in the space of 16 minutes in the final quarter of the match, skipper Grant Holt netting his 27th of the season before Elliott, on loan from Preston and a second-half substitute for Chris Martin, scored twice to secure three points.

City had looked second best in the first half and trailed at the interval to Neal Trotman's header from a corner, going behind in only the third minute.

But Holt levelled the scores after 69 minutes and had a hand in both Elliott's goals, after 74 and 85 minutes, sending nearly 3,000 City fans home in jubilant mood.

Victory for Paul Lambert's men was another big step towards a return to the Championship and they are seven points clear of second-placed Leeds, and 12 ahead of third-placed Charlton with 10 games to go, after notching up their 10th away win of the season.

Leeds Charlton and Colchester were all beaten, but there were wins for City's next opponents, Swindon, and for Millwall, who beat Charlton 4-0 in the South London derby.

Darel Russell returned in midfield for City after a three-match ban, with winger Anthony McNamee relegated to the substitutes' bench.

Left-back Adam Drury was also named among the substitutes after a six-week absence with a thigh injury.

Matthew Gill and Michael Spillane were omitted from the 18 involved against Yeovil the previous week.

Huddersfield boss Lee Clark made four changes after the 2-0 defeat at Gillingham. He recalled full-backs Lee Peltier and Dean Heffernan, midfielder Michael Collins and winger Gary Roberts.

Tom Clarke, Robbie Williams and Antony Kay were demoted to the bench, while 19-year-old striker Nathan Eccleston, on loan from Liverpool, started a three-match ban for his red card at Gillingham.

There was a disastrous start for City when they went behind with little more than two minutes played, from the first corner of the match. An inswinging kick by Pilkington was headed home by Trotman, on loan from Preston, at the near post to stun the Canaries and their huge away following.

A run by Roberts threatened more trouble for Norwich, with Nelson making a vital interception but Doherty's attempted clearance striking Novak before rebounding to Forster.

City's first corner came in the 10th minute, Holt meeting Lappin's flag-kick with a volley that was blocked.

There were appeals for a penalty when Rhodes went down under challenge from Nelson after Doherty' had fluffed an attempt to head clear, but referee Miller was unimpressed.

Next Roberts cut inside Rose from the right touchline and struck a left-foot shot that Forster smothered, diving to his left, although the effort was going wide.

City were struggling to get a grip and Novak worked his way through a ponderous defence before firing wide, left-footed, when he might have done better.

A cross by Russell Martin fell behind Smith and Chris Martin as the Canaries made a rare foray into the Huddersfield area, but the first 20 minutes had been largely one-way traffic.

Forster punched away a long-range effort by Heffernan, then Doherty made a desperate clearance from Novak's attempted cross.

Novak cashed in on hesitancy by Doherty before curling a right-foot shot across goal with Forster stranded.

With 33 minutes gone, Trotman threatened a second goal with a volley that struck Russell's head and flew wide for a corner.

When City counter-attacked, they missed a good opportunity to equalise. Holt was sent completely clear but instead tried to find Chris Martin on the left. Martin was unable find room for the shot but managed to feed the ball back to Lappin, whose cross gave Holt a free header, but he headed wide across goal.

Then Doherty headed just over from a corner by Lappin as the Canaries began to enjoy more possession.

Drinkwater fired wide with an ambitious shot from 30 yards as Huddersfield hit back.

In first-half stoppage time, a shoving match developed between Chris Martin and Trotman after they had challenged for a Russell Martin cross, with captain Peter Clarke adding his weight to the argument before Holt joined in and referee Miller had to calm things down.

HALF-TIME: Huddersfield Town 1, Norwich City 0

Forster made a fine save in the second minute after the restart as Novak's first-time shot from a quickly-taken free-kick almost flew past him at the near post.

Lappin produced City's first shot on target after 48 minutes with a left-foot volley, but straight at Smithies.

Russell earned the first yellow card for tripping Roberts as Huddersfield counter-attacked.

As City pushed forward again, Chris Martin swept a cross into the six-yard box that was just too strong for Holt.

A cross by Roberts tested Forster again when it took an awkward deflection off Russell Martin, but the 'keeper managed to hold on.

Lambert made his first change in the 62nd minute when Elliott replaced Chris Martin.

Russell Martin got his head to a Russell free-kick as City pressed, while Collins volleyed high over the top for the hosts as they broke forward.

A through-ball from Rose almost caught Huddersfield napping but Nelson was just unable to bring it under control and Doherty, following up, sliced his shot horribly wide.

City levelled after 69 minutes with a beautifully worked goal, Holt scoring his 27th of the season. Smith found Rose on the left with a crossfield ball and his excellent ball forward found Hoolahan, who showed great control before pulling back the cross for Holt to sidefoot home.

Collins shot wide as the hosts hit back, but then City broke again and Smith forced Smithies into action with a long-range effort.

With 74 minutes gone, it was 2-1 to City as Elliott scored his first for the club.

Hoolahan played the key through-ball to Holt, who showed great strength on the right to get to the byline and pull back the perfect centre for Elliott to tuck home.

Forster tipped over a dangerous effort from Robinson as the hosts looked to get back on terms.

Pilkington produced an ever better effort with a curling right-foot shot that Forster did well to keep out, diving to his left.

A terrible backpass by Rose almost handed Huddersfield the equaliser when it went straight to Novak, but with Forster racing out, the striker took the ball a fraction too wide and with defenders scrambling back to cover, Rose atoned by cutting out Novak's attempted cross.

With just over five minutes left, Elliott wrapped up the points with his second, Holt again having a hand in the goal.

Holt's ball down the left found Lappin and the midfielder's cross was perfect for Elliott to tuck home a left-foot shot.

It had been a dramatic transformation after a first half in which City had been distinctly second best.

RESULT: Huddersfield Town 1, Norwich City 3

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Peltier, Peter Clarke, Trotman, Heffernan; Pilkington, Drinkwater, Collins, Roberts; Rhodes, Novak. Subs: Eastwood, Nathan Clarke, Tom Clarke, Kay, Robinson (for Rhodes, 72), Williams Berrett (for Novak, 87).

Norwich City: Forster; Russell Martin, Doherty, Nelson, Rose; Russell; Smith, Lappin; Hoolahan; Holt, Chris Martin. Subs: Rudd, Drury, Hughes, McVeigh, McNamee, Johnson, Elliott (for Chris Martin, 62).

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham)

Attendance: 17,959

Goals: Huddersfield: Trotman (3). City: Holt (69), Elliott (74, 85)

Bookings: Huddersfield: Roberts (64). City: Russell (48)