JOEL LYNCH is taking inspiration from the highest level as he works to help Huddersfield Town return to form.

"Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid – they all get beaten. It’s about how you respond," said the Welsh international defender who made his first start in seven matches following suspension and injury as Town slumped to a 4-0 loss at Millwall last Saturday.

The result at the New Den certainly took the shine off a welcome 90-minute outing for the 25-year-old close-season recruit, who served a three-match ban following his sending off during the 3-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday and was then sidelined by a shin problem which kept him out of Wales’ World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia.

The former Nottingham Forest player was also forced to pull out of the double-header against Belgium and Serbia in September because of Achilles tendon trouble, and has had to make do with eight Town outings – plus a Wales debut in the 2-0 friendly defeat by Bosnia Herzegovina at Llanelli in August.

Now the man who signed a three-year deal with Town following the expiry of his Forest contract and his refusal of a new one at the City Ground is targeting an unbroken spell of matches, starting at home to Bristol City today.

"It can’t come quickly enough, because the manner of our defeat at Millwall was frustrating for all of us," explained Eastbourne-born Lynch, who qualifies for Wales through his father and started his career on the South coast with Brighton.

"No disrespect, but I’ve played against stronger Millwall sides in the past, and we went there well prepared and believing we could beat them.

"We knew how they would play against us, but we failed to act on the information we were given, failed to keep our shape and got caught on the counter-attack too often. At times, we were all over the place.

"Coming after the defeat at Peterborough (when Lynch was an unused substitute) it was very disappointing.

"In the last two games, we haven’t been good enough, but we also know we are capable of winning matches in this division, and we have to move on.

"We’ve gone through the Millwall game and seen exactly where we went wrong, and we’re all ready to go out (today) and get a good result."

Lynch has played the last three seasons in the Championship with Forest, and believes Town, who have another home game on Tuesday, when Blackburn visit, are more than capable of continuing to mount a challenge in the second tier.

"The last couple of results have been a big letdown, but we’ve already shown what we’re about," he added.

"In my experience, there are always going to be ups and downs in this division, but we have good players, a good spirit and a good management staff who have been encouraging us all week.

"What’s important is that we don’t get too hung up. We have to take responsibility as players, stop the goals going in and get out there and get another win."

While Lynch was signed as a central defender, he has played at left-back, and reprised that role against Millwall.

"The gaffer took me to one side the day before the game and told me he wanted me to play that position," said Lynch.

"We knew they would pose a threat from the wings and also that (striker) Darius Henderson likes to put pressure on the full-backs.

"I also tried to get forward as much as possible. I haven’t really got a stepover, I just tried to use my strength to get past the widemen and get the crosses in.

"It was good to be back in the side having worked hard in training to make sure I was nice and sharp and ready for any call-up.

"It would have been much better if we’d been talking about getting three points at Millwall, but I genuinely believe we’ll be back on the winning trail soon."