HUDDERSFIELD Town suffered their first defeat in 90 minutes since last season’s League I play-off final.

And Lee Clark was quick to see the similarity between Saturday’s FA Cup clash at the County Ground and the showdown with Peterborough at Old Trafford, where his side lost 3-0.

“We gave away too many free-kicks too cheaply in both matches,” said the boss, whose side took Cardiff to extra time before losing 5-3 in the second round of this season’s Carling Cup in South Wales and went out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on penalties after their home second-round derby against Bradford finished 2-2.

The FA Cup match analysis showed Town, who had both Gary Roberts and Gary Naysmith yellow carded for fouls, conceded 18 free-kicks to Swindon’s 11.

And Clark was furious one of them led to the 35th-minute equaliser for the League II side, headed home by former Alfreton centre-back Aden Flint.

“Sides can always score from set plays, so you have to try as hard as possible not to give them away,” he continued.

“Rather than chopping people down, you have to stay on your feet and work them.

“I briefed the players before the play-off final. I told them Peterborough had a fantastic technician from free-kicks in Grant McCann.

“I emphasised how important it was not to give them any, yet they had six opportunities to shoot at goal and they scored one and made another.