Facts
Huddersfield Town somehow managed to slip to a 2-0 defeat to Fulham despite dictating large periods of the game against their 10-man visitors, who scored in the first and final minutes to inflict a potentially massive blow on Chris Powell and his side.
The Terriers trailed early on when Alexander Kacaniklic's corner sailed through everyone but were the better side thereafter and went closest in the opening period through Nahki Wells' near-post flick was kept out by Marcus Bettinelli.
It looked as if the game may be about to turn in Town's favour when Shaun Hutchinson was sent off for handling on the line from Ishmael Miller's drive, but Bettinelli saved the resulting spot-kick from Wells, before the Bermudian missed from 12 yards for a second time as he hit the post.
Jacob Butterfield crashed an effort against the upright but Fulham punished their wasteful hosts late on when Seko Fofana went through on goal and, after hitting the post, he tucked home the rebound.
Town team (4-3-3): Smithies; Edgar (Charles, 87), Hudson, Lynch, Smith (Majewski, 75); Butterfield, Hogg (Lolley, 74), Coady; Scannell, Miller, Wells. Not used: Murphy, Wallace, Carroll, Gobern.
Analysis
Town punished for their wastefulness - There will be plenty of theories as to why Town lost this game, but ultimately, they were not able to make the most of the plethora of opportunities they carved for themselves and Fulham made them pay emphatically.
But there were enough positives here for Town boss Powell to take away from the game as he saw his side dominate from start to finish and this was surely something of an anomaly in that Town cannot go this close on so many occasions and not find the net too regularly before the season comes to a close.
Main man
Jacob Butterfield - On a day where it was difficult to pick a player who performed better than anyone else, Butterfield was the driving force at the heart of midfield, supplying some superb deliveries and ready to take the game by the scruff of the neck when required.
His best moment arrived in the second half when he sent a swerving long-distance strike onto the angle of post and crossbar and securing an equaliser would have been the least his efforts deserved on the afternoon.
Bigger picture
Town's season threatening to fizzle out - Wigan Athletic's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers - coupled with results elsewhere - mean Town are now just nine points above the bottom three, which should still be enough despite a tricky fixture list which follows the international break.
It could arrive at the perfect moment from a Town perspective because their threadbare squad has looked leggy in recent weeks and they are failing when teams arrive here trying to make it a tight game, something which saw fellow strugglers Rotherham United emerge triumphant here recently.
