If good things are supposed to come to those who wait, few had waited longer than Huddersfield Town and few, as the roar at the John Smith’s Stadium at the final whistle showed, enjoyed their reward more. This was not just a first win of the season; not when they had gone 205 days without scoring a home goal, a 659-minute barren streak that threatened to make them the wrong sort of history-makers. Instead that mantle settles on Fulham. As Huddersfield avoided the ignominy of joining the Mansfield team of 1971-72 as the only English sides to fail to score in the first six home games of a league season, Fulham equalled Southampton’s divisional record by conceding 29 times in their first 11 games of a Premier League season.

Yet while the statistical distinction is unwanted, Slavisa Jokanovic has more immediate concerns after Fulham’s worst start to a top-flight season deteriorated further. A sequence of six straight defeats imperils his position. With a trip to Liverpool next he may approach the international break with some trepidation.

“I personally trust in myself,” said Jokanovic. But he accepted his fate depends on those who let him down on Monday night. “It is outside of my control,” added the Serb. “It is not only in my hands. Part of the job is in the hands of my players.” They conducted a post-match inquest in the dressing room. “My players have some words after the game but it is a little bit late then.”

“Really sorry everyone” was the message on the club’s Twitter feed at the end. Such apologies were probably not envisaged when Fulham spent £100m in the summer. This has the potential to be the most expensive relegation of them all and, given the resources, one of the more avoidable.

Fulham have the talent but showed little of the character the victorious manager, David Wagner, identified in his Huddersfield side. “They seem to be a little bit scared,” Jokanovic admitted. “Maybe we didn’t understand how important this game is. We were a little bit confused. We didn’t play the first 45 minutes with enough intensity.” Perhaps his most remarkable admission about a side with footballing principles was: “We started to kick the ball without any sense.”

Aleksander Mitrovic and Slavisa Jokanovic exchange words on another frustrating night for Fulham. Photograph: Jacob King/Mercury Press/Rex/Shutterstock

Given Fulham’s self-destructive tendencies it was sadly symbolic that they donated the only goal, Timothy Fosu-Mensah being debited with Huddersfield’s winner. Thereafter it was indicative of their fortunes that Kevin McDonald, who came on in a half-time double switch, lasted only 20 minutes.

Change is a constant. Jokanovic has named a different defence every game this season and is no nearer to finding a formula for clean sheets. Fosu-Mensah inadvertently applied the finishing touch when two Germans combined, Christopher Schindler meeting Chris Löwe’s cross, to make it a happy anniversary for a third. “Sometimes everything comes together,” said Wagner, who was tasked with avoiding relegation to League One when appointed in November 2015. “Three years I am here, this was my 50th win and for sure one of the most important because, after such a long period, you need this feeling.”

The sensation of scoring at home was novel enough. Philip Billing had struck the bar with a thunderbolt and Alex Pritchard drew a fine save from Sergio Rico to add to their litany of near-misses. “If you hit the bar and post as often as we have, you think: ‘Come on, what is going on here?’ Huddersfield’s previous home goal came so long ago that the scorer, Thomas Ince, has since made 15 appearances for Stoke.

While he has returned to the Championship Huddersfield approached their task in a manner to suggest they will not go down without a fight. “If you don’t bring passion and aggression you have no chance,” said Schindler. Huddersfield displayed both in considerable quantities. He, Billing and Aaron Mooy were outstanding. Their team mates were willing allies.

“The guys delivered,” said Wagner. “We showed spirit and fighting intensity and in the second half, we were able to bring the result over the line. We know it is possible to deliver in big-pressure games.”

Huddersfield have already won a relegation battle and limited Fulham to one shot on target. The beaten manager sought solace from the past after consulting last year’s league table. “After 11 games Crystal Palace had four points and didn’t get relegated,” Jokanovic observed. But, and while he did not mention it, only after changing their manager.