Tranmere Rovers 0 Huddersfield Town 2: Town again triumph over adversity as Clark praises squad strength

Clark has had to cope with long-term injuries to key players throughout the campaign.

Yet Town have dealt with the setbacks and remain second.

Alex Smithies, Damien Johnson, Anthony Pilkington, Gary Naysmith and Gary Roberts have been sidelined at various stages of the season but Clark has had players to call on who have proved more than adequate replacements.

“No-one has really mentioned this but I will,” said Clark. “We have been without some of our top players for long periods, and none of the other clubs around us have had to contend with injuries like we have.

“The players who have come in have been a credit to themselves and the club. We have coped with every adversity thrown at us.”

Town had another one when left-back Liam Ridehalgh had to be replaced after 11 minutes with a damaged foot.

Clark brought on right-back Jack Hunt and switched Lee Peltier to the left and the Town defence secured a fifth successive clean sheet, making it 450 minutes since they last conceded.

“The lads at the back have been magnificent,” said Clark, who has been unable to find a slot for highly-rated centre-back Sean Morrison, 20, who came in on loan two weeks ago from Championship side Reading .

Clark said: “Sean is an exceptional player. He’s 100 per cent fit and desperate to play but I just can’t change the centre-back pairing.”

Town fans were puzzled when Clark left 20-goal top-scorer Jordan Rhodes on the bench and started with just 18-year-old Benik Afobe up front.

Clark decided on the extra midfielder because of the poor state of the Prenton Park pitch.

Town created little but never looked troubled after Afobe fired home from close range after Kevin Kilbane hit the post six minutes before the break.

Before that, Tony Warner tipped away a deflected effort from Scott Arfield and opposite number Ian Bennett saved well from Zoumana Bakayogo.

Rovers’ dangerman was winger Dale Jennings, a reputed target for Town had they lost Pilkington in the January transfer window.

Clark brought Rhodes on just past the hour mark perhaps sensing that one goal was not enough but it was Lee Novak who made sure five minutes after coming on when he was put clear by Peltier.

Tranmere Rovers: Warner; M Kay, Taylor, McChrystal, Cresswell; Weir, Labadie, Welsh, Bakayogo (McGurk 69); Jennings (Akins 90), Showunmi. Unused substitutes: Mahon, Collister, Wood, Fraughan, Blanchard.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Peltier; McCombe, P Clarke, Ridehalgh (Hunt 11); Roberts, Gudjonsson, Arfield, Kilbane, Ward (Rhodes 68); Afobe (Novak 81). Unused substitutes: Colgan, Morrison, A Kay, Lee.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Man of the match: Peter Clarke.