Adam Clayton admitted Huddersfield Town’s 5-1 derby defeat at Elland Road was tough to take – especially as a former Leeds player – but insisted Town have what it takes to hit back.

The midfielder said his side bossed the first half, when they went ahead through another former United player Danny Ward, and could well have gone on to win had they not conceded to Ross McCormack in stoppage time.

“The equaliser was certainly avoidable, because we let the ball bounce twice in our area, when we should have been alert to the danger and just cleared it,” said Clayton.

“We’ve been guilty of gift-wrapping a few too many goals for the opposition and we have to cut out that kind of mistake.

“When you come to an arena like Elland Road, you have to make sure you stay especially tight at the beginning and end of each half, but we let them in again early in the second.

“It’s disappointing to have lost the way we did, because in the first half, I thought we were the better team and could have had a few goals.”

Clayton insists Town will regroup and produce a far better show at home to Wigan on Saturday.

“This kind of defeat happened to us last season and we’re still alive,” he said. “We lost 6-1 at Leicester then went back in the FA Cup and won.”

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