A late Jeff Hughes penalty was enough to extend Bristol Rovers' winning run to four games at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon.

Hughes converted high into the net just seven minutes from time to grab the decisive goal and a fully deserving victory after Huddersfield defender Andy Butler handled inside the area.

Paul Trollope's men had dominated the first-half despite watching Terriers goalkeeper Alex Smithies save a Darryl Duffy penalty in the first-half and enjoyed more of the ball and the better of the chances for the majority of the game.

Huddersfield improved on their limp first-half performance after the break - but showed little here to back up the assertion that they are one of the sides expected to win promotion come the end of the campaign.

Rovers carved out their first chance of the afternoon eight minutes in. Terriers midfielder Anthony Kay lost the ball and Jo Kuffour played a neat angled pass into the path of strike partner Duffy. The Scotsman advanced into the penalty area and pulled the trigger but his low shot was blocked.

The Pirates continued their vibrant start against big-spending opponents - but spurned a great chance to open the scoring on 18 minutes. Hughes won the ball with a well-timed sliding challenge in his own half and it rolled into the path of Kuffour.

The little marksman left two Huddersfield players in his wake with a jinking run before playing a slide rule pass to midfielder Chris Lines, who had made a lung-busting run to the edge of the penalty area.

Huddersfield goalkeeper Smithies rushed off his line to try and halt the foray - but his despairing dive was mistimed and all he managed to achieve was to concede a penalty after clipping the ankles of Lines. Duffy stepped up to try and notch his third of the season - but Smithies guessed right and repelled the penalty to earn redemption.

The goalkeeper had to be alert again four minutes before the break when forced to batter away a vicious rising effort from Kuffour as Rovers continued to dominate.

Huddersfield returned from the interval with intent and introduced a second striker in the form of Theo Robinson to sharpen their so far impotent attack. It was Rovers, however, who went closest first when Duffy just failed to convert a menacing back post cross after good work from Kuffour and Hughes down the left.

That came on 52 minutes and seconds later Pilkington headed a good chance narrowly over the bar after connecting powerfully with Gary Roberts' back post cross. Roberts showed he could defend as well as attack four minutes later by hacking a Byron Anthony header off the line following a Stuart Campbell corner.

Terriers striker Robinson had his first sight of goal just after the hour mark when slicing over from close-range after goalkeeper Fraser Forsetr had fumbled a cross under duress. The stopper then thwarted Robinson when one-on-one by making a crucial save with his feet ot deny the striker an easy chance to round him and roll into an empty net.

Defender Danny Coles was booked for his part in a 20-man brawl when Rovers felt they should have had a penalty in the 72nd minute - when they did finally get one ten minutes later, Hughes made no mistake to give Rovers a fourth successive victory.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Forster; Regan, Coles, Anthony, Lescott; Pipe, Lines, Campbell, Hughes; Duffy (Williams 78,) Kuffour (Blizzard 85). Subs: Phillips, Elliott, Reece, Hunt, Swallow.

Huddersfield Town (4-5-1): Smithies; Peltier, Clarke, Butler, Skarz; Pilkington (Ainsworth 87), Clarke, Drinkwater, Kay (Robinson 46), Roberts; Rhodes (Novak 75). Subs: Glennon, Clarke, Collins, Simpson.

Attendance: 6952