TOWN boss Lee Clark was backing his leading scorer Lee Novak to bounce straight back after his spot kick disappointment at MK Dons.

The top four rivals drew 1-1, but Novak had been handed the chance to win the game when Dons defender Gary McKenzie was given an instant red card after tangling with Town striker Alan Lee, only for keeper David Martin to save the spot kick and salvage a point for his team.

“The penalty is not a problem really,” said Clark. “Lee Novak is the designated taker and he missed it.

“Thousands have missed penalties before and thousands will in the future. Obviously he is disappointed but he is a great goalscorer and he will just move on and look for the next goal and keep on scoring.”

Novak had retained his place in attack with Alan Lee, with last season’s top marksman Jordan Rhodes on the bench, and Clark explained he was working hard to keep his players happy.

“Lee (Novak) has struck up a great relationship with Alan Lee and that means I have had to leave Jordan on the bench,” explained Clark.

“Again in defence Jamie McCombe and Antony Kay have done well and that raises another issue as I have my club captain Peter Clarke not even stripped for the game.

“They understand the situation and we are trying to look after these players who are on the bench, or who didn't even make it to the bench, and make sure they are involved.”

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