Huddersfield welcomed Sheffield United to the John Smith's Stadium knowing that merely avoiding defeat would be enough to secure their survival.
After a superb season under Paul Heckingbottom, the Blades had already secured promotion to the Premier League, however, a 4-1 thrashing of Preston last time out was a clear indication that they had no plans to take it easy for their two remaining league fixtures.
United looked in the mood once again and they almost took an early lead when Daniel Jebbison raced away from the hosts’ defence, only to be denied by a superb Lee Nicholls save.
Huddersfield could barely get a foothold in the game in the first half, and were lucky not to be heading in at the break a goal behind after Jebbison once again failed to add to his single league goal this season, this time putting a header over the bar from just six yards out.
To the relief of the home supporters, the Terriers came out a different side in the second half and should have drawn first blood when a fizzing Jack Rudoni corner was met by Tom Lees but to his dismay, it was inadvertently blocked on the line by teammate Jonathan Hogg.
Josh Koroma then had another golden opportunity, but he couldn’t cap off a brilliant dribble past two defenders with a finish into the bottom corner, instead being denied by Wes Foderingham.
The hosts established themselves like a side that had only lost once in their last nine games in the second half, deservedly taking the lead through a Ward screamer that saw the forward curl one into the far corner from the edge of the Blades area, to score his fifth goal of the season.
Despite the Blades scoring 11 times in their last four league games, they looked void of ideas in the closing stages of this fixture as they let the Terriers see out a vital win to the elation of the fans around the stadium as Huddersfield's Championship status was secured.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Danny Ward (Huddersfield Town)