Kieran O’Regan tasted a few heavy defeats as a Huddersfield Town player.

There were 5-1 setbacks at both Bristol Rovers and Sheffield United in 1988-89, his first season after signing from Swindon Town.

Eoin Hand’s side slumped 6-0 at Bury the season after.

And in 1992-93, there was a 5-0 thrashing at Stockport County.

O’Regan, who made 249 Town appearances before joining West Bromwich Albion in 1993, watched last week’s 5-0 loss at Norwich City from the Carrow Road stand in his role as a Radio Leeds summariser.

And the 51-year-old former Republic of Ireland international feels the current squad have what it takes to bounce back at the expense of Birmingham City.

“We have all been there. It is difficult after a defeat like that,” he said. “The players let themselves down for six minutes at the start of the second half.

“Only they can explain what they were thinking. They were far too open and allowed Norwich to play straight through them.

“It was a mad few minutes and it cost us dear. But now we need to park that one and move on.

“Chris Powell is a level-headed bloke and doesn’t rant and rave, and he will have picked the players back up.

“Birmingham scored six (at home to Reading) last week so will be fired up. We have to deal with that and make sure we get Christmas off to a good start.”

After taking on Birmingham, who have won three of their last four, Town visit Rotherham United on Boxing Day and host Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, December 28.

Centre-back Murray Wallace will be back from suspension for the games against Rotherham and Bolton after what O’Regan feels was a harsh straight red card against Norwich, a real turning point in the game.

“The referee has the right to send him off but he could have given himself a little more time before deciding,” he explained. “Would Cameron Jerome have got to the ball before Alex Smithies, did he have control? The assistant didn’t flag so perhaps the referee might have given it a little more thought before pulling out the red.”