A superb chipped finish from Jordan Rhodes sealed victory for Huddersfield over Exeter in Simon Grayson's first game in charge.

Jake Taylor and Daniel Nardiello both forced Terriers keeper Alex Smithies into action early on.

Jamie McCombe headed home from Danny Ward's free-kick to put the hosts ahead before the break.

Rhodes sealed the win late on with a cultured effort over Grecians custodian Artur Krysiak from 18 yards out.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Huddersifeld Town manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I'm delighted that we've won the match and at this stage of the season it's all about winning games.

"There's many things we'd like to work on but were not going to be able to impose our ideas until the summer.

"We've got plenty of players that can come into the squad and that's what its going to be all about until the end of the season."

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:

"I'm very disappointed that we played as well as we did and we didn't get anything from it.

"To play the way we did required a huge application and focus.

"We continue to blood our young players and, although we lost today, it's a valuable step forward for them."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Huddersfield

  • 01 Smithies
  • 03 Naysmith
  • 06 McCombe
  • 15 Morrison
  • 32 Hunt
  • 07 Roberts (Cadamarteri - 83' )
  • 10 Gobern
  • 11 Ward
  • 22 Robinson (Gudjonsson - 64' )
  • 17 Rhodes
  • 19 Lee (Novak - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bennett
  • 08 Kay
  • 04 Gudjonsson
  • 09 Cadamarteri
  • 21 Novak

Exeter

  • 01 Krysiak
  • 03 Jones
  • 05 Archibald-Henville
  • 18 Coles
  • 26 Bennett
  • 04 Dunne
  • 07 Sercombe (Bauza - 71' )
  • 08 Noble
  • 28 Dawson (Logan - 61' )
  • 35 Taylor
  • 10 Nardiello

Substitutes

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 11 O'Brien
  • 31 McNish
  • 20 Logan
  • 21 Bauza
Ref: Mark Heywood
Att: 14,105

Match Stats

Shots

11 7

On target

5 4

Corners

7 2

Fouls

8 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:03 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +0:24

Lee Novak takes has a header from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

86:04

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gary Naysmith, Scot Bennett makes a clearance.

84:26

Assist on the goal came from Lee Novak.

84:26 Goal scored

Goal - Jordan Rhodes - Huddersfld 2 - 0 Exeter Jordan Rhodes scores a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Huddersfield 2-0 Exeter.

82:14 Substitution

Substitution Danny Cadamarteri comes on in place of Gary Roberts.

81:59

The ball is sent over by Joey Gudjonsson.

79:13

Gary Roberts concedes a free kick for a foul on Scot Bennett. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Noble.

78:11

Lee Novak crosses the ball, Artur Krysiak makes a save.

76:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Roberts on Daniel Nardiello. Billy Jones takes the free kick.

75:37

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Daniel Ward.

74:41

Daniel Ward sends in a cross.

73:26

Guillem Bauza challenges Oscar Gobern unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Naysmith takes the indirect free kick.

72:17

Lee Novak sends in a cross, Artur Krysiak makes a save.

71:41

A cross is delivered by Billy Jones, Jamie McCombe manages to make a clearance.

70:26 Substitution

Substitution Guillem Bauza is brought on as a substitute for Liam Sercombe.

70:26

The official flags Jordan Rhodes offside. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

68:41

Daniel Nardiello challenges Oscar Gobern unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie McCombe takes the indirect free kick.

66:02

Effort on goal by Lee Novak from outside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

65:15

Jack Hunt sends in a cross.

64:53

The official flags Daniel Nardiello offside. Indirect free kick taken by Alex Smithies.

62:30 Substitution

Substitution Joey Gudjonsson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Anton Robinson.

62:30 Substitution

Substitution Lee Novak is brought on as a substitute for Alan Lee.

62:30

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts from the left by-line to the near post, Shot on goal by Oscar Gobern from just inside the area goes over the target.

60:30 Substitution

Substitution Richard Logan is brought on as a substitute for Aaron Dawson.

60:30

The referee blows for offside. Alex Smithies restarts play with the free kick.

58:33

Daniel Ward produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

55:31

Foul by Billy Jones on Daniel Ward, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Daniel Ward from right wing.

53:27

Effort on goal by Anton Robinson from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

51:54

Gary Naysmith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jake Taylor. Free kick taken by Troy Archibald-Henville.

49:03

Sean Morrison concedes a free kick for a foul on David Noble. David Noble takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:01 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

43:49

The assistant referee signals for offside against Alan Lee. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

42:48

The offside flag is raised against Daniel Nardiello. Alex Smithies restarts play with the free kick.

42:06

The ball is crossed by Jack Hunt.

39:55

Assist on the goal came from Daniel Ward.

39:55 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie McCombe - Huddersfld 1 - 0 Exeter Jamie McCombe finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Huddersfield 1-0 Exeter.

39:20

Unfair challenge on Daniel Ward by James Dunne results in a free kick. Daniel Ward sends in a cross,

34:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Roberts by James Dunne. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Gary Roberts from right channel, Scot Bennett makes a clearance.

34:21

David Noble takes a shot. Save by Alex Smithies.

30:07

The ball is delivered by Jack Hunt, Jordan Rhodes takes a shot. Artur Krysiak makes a save.

26:55

Unfair challenge on Scot Bennett by Alan Lee results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.

26:18

Daniel Nardiello takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.

23:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Dunne by Anton Robinson. James Dunne takes the free kick.

21:47

David Noble decides to take a short corner.

21:23

The ball is crossed by Billy Jones, Gary Naysmith makes a clearance.

20:10

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Daniel Ward.

19:58

Daniel Ward takes a shot. James Dunne gets a block in.

18:07

Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts, save by Artur Krysiak.

17:04

Alan Lee fouled by Troy Archibald-Henville, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Roberts crosses the ball in from the free kick, Aaron Dawson makes a clearance.

12:58

Corner taken left-footed by Gary Roberts from the left by-line, clearance made by Liam Sercombe.

12:44

Close range headed effort by Aaron Dawson goes wide of the left-hand post.

11:26

Sean Morrison delivers the ball.

10:42

Gary Roberts delivers the ball, Daniel Ward takes a shot. Blocked by Billy Jones.

9:46

Alan Lee challenges Scot Bennett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by David Noble.

9:18

Liam Sercombe takes a shot. Save made by Alex Smithies.

8:14

Corner taken by Gary Roberts from the left by-line to the near post, Scot Bennett makes a clearance.

5:29

Daniel Nardiello takes a shot.

3:36

Centre by Daniel Ward, Header from close in by Alan Lee misses to the left of the target.

2:31

Inswinging corner taken by David Noble from the left by-line played to the near post, save by Alex Smithies.

2:17

Daniel Nardiello takes a shot. Blocked by Jamie McCombe.

0:32

Oscar Gobern concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Sercombe. David Noble produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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