JORDAN Rhodes missed a penalty on his 100th league appearance for the club as wasteful Rovers had to settle for a frustrating draw that means they will go into the international break without a win in three matches.

Rhodes had notched five goals in four games against his former club since making the £8m move from Huddersfield in August 2012.

But he was unable to mark his milestone with another as he dragged his 61st-minute spot-kick wide of the post.

He was not the only Rovers player to fluff his lines in front of goal.

Gary Bowyer’s side had more than enough chances, particularly in the second half, to beat their revitalised Roses rivals.

But they failed to take any of them and in the end the Terriers, buoyed by back-to-back victories, could have made it nine points from a very profitable week.

Rovers, in contrast, have taken just two in the last eight days, a disappointing return which means they find themselves 12th in the Championship, four points behind the play-off places and six from the top two.

The hosts created the better opportunities in a first half which started brightly but, after a couple of stoppages for injuries, lost its fizz and never truly recovered.

Huddersfield, in confident mood after their impressive midweek win at high-flying Wolves, were faster out of the traps and man-of-the-match Shane Duffy made an important clearance and Ryan Tunnicliffe and Craig Conway important blocks from the hard-working Sean Scannell.

Markus Olsson made an even better block to deny Nahki Wells a certain goal in the seventh minute after Jack Robinson sidestepped Grant Hanley, who over-committed himself in the tackle.

Rovers, defending much better than in their two previous first halves of football when they found themselves two goals down at the break, did not test Alex Smithies until the 23rd minute.

Earlier in the contest Tom Cairney curled a left-footed free kick over the bar.

But from a similar distance, stand-in right-back Ben Marshall this time got his effort on target, with Smithies gathering the ball at the second attempt before Josh King could gobble up the rebound.

Without towering targetman and top-scorer Rudy Gestede - one of eight first-team players unavailable to boss Bowyer - Rovers were forced to change their approach.

But the selection of King, who partnered Rhodes up front, did give them more pace on the break and in the 30th minute the recalled Norwegian led a swift counter-attack.

King, after weighing up his options right and left, switched the ball to the fit-again Cairney who, with defenders getting back around him, cut inside and fired a left-footed shot two yards wide.

It was a good chance. Better, though, were to come before the half was out.

Firstly King headed wide when he should have hit the target after Rhodes hooked over a first-time cross from the right.

Then Hanley connected with a Conway corner from the left only to divert his diving header wide.

King went closer still seven minutes after the restart when he looped a header on to the bar and over following a pinpoint cross from the inside of Marshall’s right boot.

The pressure was building and Rovers were given a golden opportunity to make it tell in the 61st minute when Grant Holt, who had earlier been booked, was adjudged to have handled Conway’s free kick in the box.

But, amazingly given his record from the spot, the usually reliable Rhodes missed.

Rhodes had the chance to make amends moments later but he was denied by his old team-mate Smithies, with Mark Hudson then doing superbly to prevent King from tapping the ball into the empty net.

Smithies then made a better stop from Lee Williamson, which he dived high to his left to push away, before Conway cut inside and whistled a drive inches past the upright.

It was all Rovers and their fans must have thought their side would finally make the breakthrough in the 76th minute after Cairney sliced the Huddersfield defence in two to put King clean through on goal.

The former Manchester United man showed strength to hold off Hudson but his attempt was blocked behind by Smithies.

King should have scored and so should have Hanley after he met a corner from Conway with a downward header.

The Terriers, after receiving let off after let off, finished the stronger.

Jacob Butterfield was not far away at all before Jason Steele spilled another fiercely struck strike from distance, this time from Harry Bunn, but Hanley was there to clear the danger with Wells ready to pounce.

Wells then missed a virtual open goal.

But in defence of the livewire striker, who later saw a shot deflect wide, the cross from Bunn was fizzed over at great pace.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Cairney, Tunnicliffe (Taylor 88), Williamson, Conway, King, Rhodes. Subs not used: Eastwood, Henley, Kilgallon, Varney, Songo’o, Lenihan.

Booked: Hanley, Williamson.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Smith, Lynch, Hudson, Robinson, Scannell, Coady, Butterfield, Bunn, Holt, Wells (Peltier 86). Subs not used: Murphy, Dixon, Ward, Stead, Wallace, Majewski.

Booked: Holt.

Referee: Nigel Miller.

Attendance: 14, 662.