Charlton Athletic 0 Huddersfield Town 1: Clark demands same again from Gudjonsson as Icelander strikes

Terriers chief Clark took a big gamble by leaving out 21-goal hitman Jordan Rhodes as his team went in search of a fourth successive away win.

But the gamble paid off as Gudjonsson’s thunderbolt free-kick won it for the visitors with seven minutes left.

“Joey’s a class act but he frustrates me because I know how good he is,” said Clark.

“Over the course of the season consistency has been the key with Joey, but when he plays in that type of form – and no disrespect of the other lads who play at this level – he’s too good.

“That’s why I pursued him in the summer to get him on a Bosman. It’s a good bit of business. But my challenge to Joey is to play as well as that as often as possible.”

Clark’s charges are third in the table and on the same points as second-placed Southampton, although the Saints have a game in hand. Clark remains confident his team have what it takes to earn the second promotion spot with league leaders Brighton have been confirmed as champions at the weekend.

“It’s no coincidence that we’re on a run and the lack of goals going in our net when you look at the experience of the back lads,” added Clark. “But we’ve got to keep pushing on, there’s a lot to play for.”

For most of the contest, it looked as thought the Terriers were going to be frustrated as they failed to be clinical in front of goal. But Iceland international Gudjonnson’s 30-yard screamer proved enough.

Scott Wagstaff went agonisingly close for the Addicks late on and goalkeeper Ian Bennett pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart the home side.

Charlton Athletic: Sullivan, Solly, Doherty, Fortune, Bessome; Wagstaff, Stewart, Semedo, Racon (Reid 78); Wright-Phillips, Benson. Unused substitutes: Gough, Francis, Llera, Nouble, Parrett, Eccleston.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett, Peltier, Clarke, McCombe, Naysmith; Gudjonsson, Hunt, Arfield, Kilbane, Roberts (Novak 73); Afobe (Kay 85). Unused substitutes: Colgan, Ward, Rhodes, Lee, Morrison.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).

Man of the match: Joey Gudjonsson.