Clark puts defeat in perspective

Lee Clark admitted his Huddersfield side's first defeat in 44 league games paled into insignificance in the wake of the death of close friend Gary Speed.

Town's record-breaking run was halted by first half goals from Yann Kermorgant and Hogan Ephraim as Charlton moved seven points clear at the head of League One with a 2-0 victory. But Clark insisted the loss of Speed, his former Newcastle United team-mate, overshadowed events at The Valley.

He said: "This is a big boys' game and sometimes you get a knock-back but I've had the biggest knock-back ever. Don't think this defeat doesn't hurt but what happened yesterday morning has put everything in perspective. It was a hammer blow when we got the news travelling down to London."

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