Leyton Orient 1 Huddersfield Town 3: Rhodes gets Huddersfield back on track with double

Things looked grim for Huddersfield, who had been beaten by Carlisle United on Saturday, when Matt Spring fired the home side ahead. But Simon Grayson’s side dug deep and battled their way back with two goals before the break and another at the finish.

The win leaves Town five points off the automatic promotion places with six games to go.

After a quiet start it was Orient who grabbed the lead on 14 minutes when Town failed to clear George Porter’s long throw and the ball fell invitingly for home captain Spring to fire past Alex Smithies from the edge of the area.

However, the visitors took just two minutes to draw level when leading scorer Rhodes showed his predatory instincts following Danny Ward’s corner.

As the ball bobbled around in the six-yard box, Rhodes tried a clever backheel that Orient midfielder Smith, on the goal-line, could only divert into his own net, denying the Terriers striker his 36th goal of the season.

Huddersfield were looking dangerous from corners and almost took the lead on the half-hour from another delivery by Ward.

This time Town captain Peter Clarke rose above everyone, but his header from six yards was cleared off the line by Spring.

After Huddersfield duo Jack Hunt and Alan Lee were cautioned, it was the visitors who took the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Once again it came from a set-piece when Sean Morrison’s long throw caused havoc in the home penalty area and Rhodes reacted first to stab the ball past former Town goalkeeper Paul Rachubka from close range.

Grayson made a double change at the break as Calum Woods replaced Hunt and Tom Clarke, who had a loan spell at Orient earlier in the season, moved to right-back.

Scott Arfield also joined the action and came on for Lee Novak, but it did not disrupt the visitors who made a lively start to the second period.

Rhodes could have added to his tally on 57 minutes but headed over Diego Arismendi’s cross.

As the game entered its final phase the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser and substitute Kevin Lisbie headed just over. Then Spring saw a goal-bound shot deflected wide by Morrison.

But Huddersfield held firm and in the 90th minute Rhodes wrapped things up with a fine solo effort to keep his side’s flickering hopes of a top-two finish alive.

Leyton Orient: Rachubka; Forbes, Chorley, Leacock, Dickson; Porter, Smith, Spring, Laird (Lisbie 57), Cox; Mooney (Andrew 83). Unused substitutes: Ben Youssef, Reed, Taiwo.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Hunt (Woods 46), Morrison, P Clarke, T Clarke; Novak (Arfield 46), Arismendi, Kay, Ward; Lee (Cadamarteri 78), Rhodes. Unused substitutes: Bennett, Roberts.

Referee: James Linington.