Huddersfield Town 4 MK Dons 1: Town in party mood after Dons suffer at Galpharm

Nostalgia aside, Town fans have mainly painful memories of the Seventies – an era when their club slid from the top-flight of English football to the bottom, suffered three relegations in four seasons, and endured a five-year stay in Division Four.

Fortunately, the decade ended on a high with promotion under then manager Mick Buxton – but time does funny things to the mind.

Listening again to some of the tunes that topped the chart in the days of Glam Rock serves to illustrate that things were not necessarily better.

Things have improved for Town since those dark days but recent results still threatened to dampen the party spirit.

Manager Lee Clark desperately needed this victory over Milton Keynes Dons to lift a growing pressure on his shoulders and underline his belief that Town are indeed capable of mounting a serious challenge for automatic promotion this season.

Goals from Anthony Kay, Gary Roberts, and a double from Jordan Rhodes secured a comfortable victory with substitute Aaron Wilbraham bagging a consolation for the visitors.

It was the second 4-1 defeat in a row for the Dons who lost by the same scoreline against Town's Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Victory lifted Town back into the League One play-off zone and delivered a much needed boost to confidence going into Saturday's FA Cup second round clash with Macclesfield.

Clark made three changes in the wake of a weekend home defeat by Exeter City – recalling goalkeeper Alex Smithies, defender Jamie McCombe, and striker Joe Garner at the expense of Ian Bennett, Lee Peltier, and Joey Gudjonsson.

The Dons were without two key players – the suspended Luke Chadwick and injured striker Sam Baldock – so manager Karl Robinson recalled Sean O'Hanlon and former Doncaster Rovers striker Lewis Guy.

Town made a bright start and both Jordan Rhodes and Gary Roberts found space to test the Dons goalkeeper.

But there was a scare at the opposite end when Danny Woodards's shot was blocked on the line and Peter Clarke needed to put his head in bravely to prevent Dean Lewington from scoring in a crowded goalmouth.

Town soon began to push the Dons back and a diving header from Anthony Pilkington brought a terrific one-handed save from David Martin.

Rhodes tested Martin again before Kay broke the deadlock with 24 minutes gone, taking advantage when a ball from Pilkington caught out Mathias Doumbe. The Frenchman inadvertently knocked the ball into the path of the Town midfielder who finished from 10 yards out.

Winger Roberts doubled Town's lead just eight minutes later – heading in from close range after a Pilkington corner was knocked back across goal by Damien Johnson.

Town had dominated the first half, delivering a series of telling balls into the box, just as Clark had demanded.

Although Michael McIndoe narrowly missed the target with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time, Town thoroughly deserved their two-goal interval lead.

Club icons including Malcolm Brown, Frank Worthington, Brian Stanton, and Trevor Cherry were wheeled out at the interval (not literally, it should be stressed) to add to the occasion.

There should have been no way back for the Dons when Rhodes hammered in the third but substitute Aaron Wilbraham made an immediate impact for the Dons – netting a superb volley just moments after entering the fray.

Town goalkeeper Smithies had been mainly a spectator until that point yet the goal briefly cast a doubt over his side's superiority.

When substitute Daniel Powell surged between defenders to fire another warning shot at Smithies, alarm bells started to ring among the home crowd

The danger soon passed, however, and Town substitute Benik Afobe proved pivotal in stemming the rising tide.

Afobe, on loan from Arsenal, smashed a shot narrowly wide and then rattled the woodwork but Rhodes was on hand to convert the rebound and score his 10th goal of the season.

Midfielders Damien Johnson and Stephen Gleeson attempted to rekindle the 70s spirit - exchanging slaps in the closing stage.

It was, of course, nothing compared to the days of the 'Choppers' and referee David Webb was applauded for keeping his cards in his pocket.

So Seventies night was an undoubted hit at the Galpharm, even if only a few punters wore fancy dress. They went home happy and with the sound of Showaddywaddy singing Under the Moon of Love ringing in their ears.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Arfield, McCombe, P.Clarke, Carey; Pilkington, Johnson, Kay, Roberts (Ridehalgh 57); Garner (Afobe 57), Rhodes. Unused substitutes: Bennett, Lee, Croft, N.Clarke, Gudjonsson.

MK Dons: Martin; Woodard, O'Hanlon, Doumbe, Lewington; Gleeson, Carrington (Wilbraham 55), Leven; McIndoe (Johnson 66); Guy, Ibehre (Powell 55). Unused substitutes: Searle, Chicksen, Hamann, Mackenzie.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham)