Impressive keeper Jed Steer might have been Huddersfield Town’s saviour when he went upfield for a last-gasp corner.

But the desperate ploy almost presented Derby County with a third goal on the breakaway, and few could have argued had the visitors won with a wider margin.

It needed a string of fine saves by on-loan Aston Villa stopper Steer to prevent Paul Clement’s promotion chasers stretching their advantage.

And it was a case of too little, too late from Chris Powell’s men as they suffered a fifth defeat of the Championship campaign after their stoppage-time push was soaked up.

Harry Bunn wiped out Chris Martin’s controversial opener (there were claims of offside) during a disjointed first half.

But after George Thorne thumped Derby back ahead three minutes into the second period, there was an inevitability about the final outcome.

There was a fleeting feeling that Town might just pinch a point as the game went into four minutes added on and some pressure was finally applied.

But these Rams are a pretty resilient breed and, in truth, they coped with the attacks comfortably enough.

Town boss Powell, a promotion winner from this division with Derby in 1996, recently said that his team have to play at their maximum to take three points from any match.

That’s clearly especially true against the second tier’s stronger sides, and Clement’s charges are one of those.

The worrying thing is that Town have two tough away games, against Burnley and Reading, before the big home derby with Leeds United a week on Saturday.

Both the Clarets and the Royals are, like Derby, in and amongst it at the top, and will be scenting a fresh scalp.

Town have been competitive in the bulk of their matches this season.

But even though they went into this game on the back of consecutive clean sheets, they still look susceptible defensively. And at the other end, they are certainly lacking a cutting edge.

In the build-up to the game, Powell praised Ishmael Miller’s contribution to the cause (as did MK Dons manager Karl Robinson after his side’s 2-0 defeat the John Smith’s Stadium last Tuesday).

But the big striker still hasn’t scored this season, although he was unlucky to see his shot thwack down off the underside of the bar before Bunn forced the ball home.

Meanwhile his frontline partner Nahki Wells has only three to his name this time around.

And the club-record buy didn’t look like adding to that tally against Derby.

Town’s richest source of goals for a spell was Emyr Huws.

But the on-loan Wigan Athletic midfielder hasn’t had many chances of late, and has now gone three games without adding to his four-goal haul.

Bunn, who scored his second of the term and was busy down the left, was Town’s brightest attacker.

And it’s a shame Powell’s side couldn’t make more of some decent crosses by Muzzy Carayol, who replaced hamstring-injury victim Sean Scannell in the 21st minute.

Goals change games – if you can get them.