Hodgson put his faith in makeshift striker Bakary Sako, leaving Christian Benteke on the bench, and was rewarded when the Mali international scored in the 13th minute.
It was Sako’s first strike since August 2015, and his side’s first in 289 minutes of football, but boy did Palace have to cling on after that.
At times, it was painfully reminiscent of watching Hodgson’s England. Score a goal, retreat into a shell, hang on desperately.
But hang on they did, with the help of Mamadou Sakho, starting his first game since a £26m move from Liverpool, to record their first clean sheet of the season.
Terriers boss David Wagner did make nine changes, but his side had plenty of chances to equalise and ended up with more shots and more possession before the final whistle blew.
Hodgson said: “I’m pleased with the win. When the going got tough we dug in and chased and fought. It was a very positive evening.
“I’m certain the win will help us. We desperately needed it. You don’t repair the sort of damage we’ve suffered overnight. But I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel tonight.”
Sako, who later tweeted: “The season starts now”, didn’t wait long to take his chance, heading in the opener from an Andros Townsend corner carelessly given away by Huddersfield.
A stray pass by Philip Billing was picked off by Chung Yong Lee and the Terriers only just managed to clear the ball, but were made to pay from the resulting set piece.
Huddersfield almost fashioned a quick response when Florent Hadergonjaj, making his debut at right-back, cut the ball back to Elias Kachunga, but he flicked his shot over the crossbar.
On their last visit on the opening day of the season they had won 3-0 here, setting the two clubs on paths leading in very different directions.
It was Palace needing a win more desperately last night, and Jeffrey Schlupp tested Huddersfield keeper Joel Coleman’s reflexes towards the end of a first half lacking in real chances.
Wagner, standing stony-faced in his dug-out, arms folded crossly, was not impressed, and his side had failed to force Julian Speroni into a meaningful first-half save.
But while Hodgson sent on Pape Souare for the second half for his first appearance since his car crash more than a year ago, Wagner made no changes.
Rajiv van La Parra finally made Speroni do some work with an optimistic shot from outside the box as the visitors tried to force the issue.
But while it was hardly an onslaught, Crystal Palace still looked a team low on confidence who seemed happy to retreat deeper and deeper into their shell.
Kachunga slowly began to look more dangerous, having a shot blocked and then shooting wide, before Speroni saved well down to his right from Tom Ince.
It was shoot-on-sight time for Huddersfield after that, and there were plenty of nervy moments for the home side before it was over, but somehow they hung on.
Wagner said: “We were sloppy. Not good enough. They put out an experienced team and we were able to compete in the second half. But I am not happy.”
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Speroni; Kelly, Sakho (Delaney 70), Tomkins, Van Aanholt; Milivojevic, Riedewald (Cabaye 80); Townsend, Lee, Schlupp (Souare 46); Sako. Hennessey, Ward, Mutch, Benteke
Huddersfield (4-2-3-1): Coleman; Hadergonjaj, Hefele, Cranie, Malone; Hogg (Whitehead 70), Billing; Ince (Mooy 69), La Parra, Lolley; Kachunga. Subs: Lossl, Smith, Sabiri, Lowe, Zanka
Referee: Lee Probert
