Danny Ward scored the only goal as Huddersfield secured their place in the Championship next season with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, a result that relegates Reading.

Ward's second-half effort proved enough as Neil Warnock's side avoided a final-day decider against Reading, who tumble into League One, the third tier of the English game.

The result caps a remarkable turnaround since Warnock's appointment at the John Smith's Stadium in mid-February -- Town have lost just one of their past nine league matches including five wins in the past eight.

Victory over United lifts Huddersfield six points above the bottom three, with the final round of fixtures to be played on Monday.

The winning goal came in the 59th minute when Ward hit a stunning curling effort from distance that nestled in the bottom corner.

United, who have already secured promotion to the Premier League, pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages but Warnock's men held firm, sparking celebrations in the stands.