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Two goals by Huddersfield Town's top scorer Jordan Rhodes, to take his tally to 17 goals for the season, was enough to see off the visitors to the Galpharm Stadium, Southend United.
It wasn't an impressive display by the Terriers but Rhodes' smart finishing was enough to see off Southend, even though the Shrimpers impressed in spells but couldn't come up the answer as they huffed and puffed until a 90th minute consolation effort from Scott Spencer.

It was strange as the teams appeared from the tunnel with Town wearing a red and yellow strip in support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which sponsor the home shirt. It was the first time in 98 years that Town have been seen in a home league match in anything other than their traditional blue and white.

Robbie Williams, who had been linked with a move to Aberdeen, was back in the starting line-up in favour of Joe Skarz, Tom Clarke started alongside Antony Kay as Michael Collins was on the bench along with Skarz.

It took Town 44 minutes to break the deadlock against a packed Southend midfield and employed Lee Barnard as the lone front man, who has troubled down before in Southend colours and with Crewe.
Rhodes, who netted on his Town debut against Southend at the start of the season, was in the right place to finish off Town's best move involving himself, Gary Roberts and Anthony Pilkington.

Antony Kay smashed a great header onto the bar, Town found it a battle in the final third as the Southend captain Adam Barrett was a rock at the heart of the Shrimpers defence. Lee Novak brought out a good save from Steve Mildenhall and also narrowly shot wide while Roberts had a effort that was straight at the Southend goalkeeper.

Barnard, Southend's only real threat, but his finishing was not up to scratch as the Shrimpers pressed forward at times.
Southend still added much to a keen contest after the break though Town improved with a Roberts cross narrowly evading Rhodes while Pilkington went for goal when he should have passed to two unmarked men in the box and a Novak low drive was well held by Mildenhall.

Town skipper Peter Clarke had to be his best against his old club with a clinical challenge on the pacey Franc Moussa and Town keeper Alex Smithies more than matched some of Southend's dangerous crosses.

Town were persistent and it paid off with 63 minutes gone on the clock, Pilkington launched a right wing corner and Rhodes was the first to it to guide in a superb header that gave Mildenhall in the Southend goal no chance.

Roberts and Pilkington threatened and Robbie Williams fired a fierce drive just over as the Southend defence struggled to cope with the Town attack.
Theo Robinson was thrown on in place of Novak and was quickly in the thick of it, setting up Rhodes which should have been his hat-trick.

Rhodes was given a rest ahead of Tuesday night's clash with Bristol Rovers with forgotten man Robbie Simpson given a chance after been blighted by injury since signing from Coventry City in pre-season.
Both Simpson and Robinson forced Mildenhall into saves as Town pushed for a third as they headed for a 10th home win of the season.

It was Southend who had the last say, substitute Scott Spencer beat Peter Clarke for pace and slotted it past Smithies for a last consolation for the Shrimpers.

Sean's Star Man - Jordan Rhodes
Clinical finishing by the 19-year old after having a dry spell having not scored since the 2-2 draw with Leeds, Took both goals well and was unlucky not to get a hat-trick.

Teams:

Town: Smithies, Peltier, Nathan Clarke, Peter Clarke, Williams, Pilkington, Tom Clarke, Kay (Drinkwater 64) Roberts, Novak (Robinson 78), Rhodes (Simpson 82)
Subs not used: Eastwood, Skarz, Collins, Ainsworth

Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Francis, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant (Christophe 76), McCormack, Moussa, Scannell (Spencer 76), Barnard (Freedman 85)