Huddersfield Town 2 Dagenham and Red 1: Rhodes double keeps pressure on Saints in promotion race

Rhodes took his tally for the season to 22 but manager Lee Clark was left hopping mad on the touchline as Town held on after the break.

Town had a dose of the jitters but the difference between this season and last is that they can grind out wins and don’t know when they’re beaten.

The visitors slipped into the bottom four on the back of a disastrous run, losing seven of their last eight matches.

But Dagenham had at least three great chances to level in the second half and Town must consider themselves fortunate to claim another three points.

At this stage of the campaign Clark is only bothered about points not performances and said: “We are unbeaten in 23 matches – that’s half a season – and all my lads have worked damned hard in the second half of the season.”

While Town keep winning so do second-spot rivals Southampton and Clark added: “We can only win our games and if Southampton pip us to automatic promotion you have to hold your hands up. We will keep going right to the end.”

Clark admitted his side were not at their best, but said: “We were a bit nervy, and that’s down to the expectation levels.

“Sometimes you have to win football matches a bit differently and that’s what we did.”

Town went ahead through Rhodes in the ninth minute when Benik Afobe refused to give up on a lost cause.

Centre-back Will Antwi tried to shepherd the ball into touch but Afobe hooked a leg around and squared for the unmarked Rhodes to fire home.

Rhodes blasted over before Afobe beat two defenders but his finish was saved by Tony Roberts.

Jack Hunt, celebrating the award of a two-year contract extension, showed great pace and strength down the right wing.

Hunt almost put Town 2-0 up but Roberts kept out his powerful effort.

Dagenham equalised when Romain Vincelot burst into the box and lashed past Ian Bennett to level.

Four minutes later Town were back in front when Gary Roberts crossed for a flying header from Rhodes.

Town failed to perform after the break and a dipping effort from Scott Arfield just after the restart was as good as it got.

John Akinde should have equalised but somehow headed wide from inside the six-yard box.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Peltier, McCombe, P Clarke, Naysmith; Hunt (Gudjonsson 61), Arfield, Kilbane, Roberts, Afobe (Novak 67), Rhodes (Cadamarteri 86). Unused substitutes: Colgan, Ward, Kay, A Lee.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts; Ogogo, Antwi, Arber, Ilesanmi (Currie 87); Bingham (D J Green 70); Danny Green, Vincelot, Gain, Nurse (Savage 80); Akinde. Unused substitutes: Lewington, Walsh, O Lee, Taiwo.

Referee: E L Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).