We're still in hunt for play-offs, insists Clark

Published: 6:15 AM March 15, 2010

Updated: 10:54 PM October 10, 2020

Lee Clark maintains Huddersfield are still a good bet for the play-offs despite losing their unbeaten home record to City and suffering a third straight defeat.

“There's been some negativity around the club after our last two defeats and there's about to be more now,” said the one-time Canaries assistant manager.

“But I still believe in my players. There's 10 games left to go and I know they are capable of putting together a great run to the end of the season to get into the top six.”

Clark was critical of his defenders as City turned around an early deficit to score there times after the break.

“That's why Norwich are top,” he said. “They hang on in games and when they sense a weakness they go for it, that's when they kill you.

“We've given away three very poor goals, two of them coming from mistakes by our defenders.

“If we can eradicate the mistakes while still playing the same sort of football, then we can still make the play-offs.

“I have just said to the players we have ended up losing a game I would have been disappointed to get a draw from, but the bottom line is that everyone in the side has to accept their defensive duties and do them better.

“Today the players haven't done that and it has cost us.

“We took the lead, created lots and lots of opportunities and played some quality football, but have switched off and nobody in the team can afford to do that because the top teams pick you off.

“In the first half we got the ball down and passed it. We attacked Norwich with speed and composure and created plenty of chances.

“However, Norwich pounced upon our mistakes and proved why they are top of the league.

“We can take huge positives from certain parts of the game, but massive negatives from other parts of it.

“My players need to stand up and be counted and for 10 games we will go right for the jugular and hopefully we will get what we want.”