Widely-travelled Claridge, already at his third club of the season, struck twice in the space of eight second-half minutes to ease the pressure on Todd and leave home fans calling for boss Andy King's head.
Todd said: "I knew at half-time I was going to bring Steve on because he does things that other players are not capable of.
"He is a goalscorer and I'm sure he will get many more for us. When we signed him I told him he wasn't coming here just to sit on the bench but that¹s the way things have worked out over the last few weeks.
"But Steve never complained and has been a model professional and has got his reward now. He scored two terrific goals and reads the game well, he will be an asset for us."
Todd said: "I knew at half-time I was going to bring Steve on because he does things that other players are not capable of.
"He is a goalscorer and I'm sure he will get many more for us. When we signed him I told him he wasn't coming here just to sit on the bench but that¹s the way things have worked out over the last few weeks.
"But Steve never complained and has been a model professional and has got his reward now. He scored two terrific goals and reads the game well, he will be an asset for us."