There was disappointment for David Wagner and the home supporters as Huddersfield Town were well beaten by Burnley.

Town ‘drew’ the second half of the Roses derby - but that was as good as it got as the no-nonsense visitors underlined their credentials for a quick return to the Premier League.

While a sixth straight win kept the Clarets looking comfortable at the top, Town remained 18th but are even closer to the relegation zone.

A battling 3-3 draw for Rotherham United against Derby County means a gap which was 12 points on February 20 is now just six.

It’s certainly a concern for many fans and, even if he’s not showing it, must be a worry for Wagner.

After a disappointing display, particularly in the first half, when all four goals were scored, his side really need something from the derby at Leeds United on Saturday.

Hopeful of building on a midweek win over Reading, the boss made four changes against Burnley.

Jason Davidson replaced James Husband at left-back.

And with Philip Billing, back after a three-match ban and pencilled in to play in place of Kyle Dempsey, feeling ill on the morning of the match, Emyr Huws returned after seven games out with an ankle injury.

There were alterations up front, where Karim Matmour and Sean Scannell replaced Jamie Paterson and Harry Bunn.

Wagner stuck by his team selection afterwards and also maintained his side were right to keep passing the ball out from the defence.

That’s despite Burnley pushing players high up the pitch and cutting down the space for any defender receiving the ball from keeper Jed Steer.

What is undisputable is that Town were poor in defending set-pieces.

Two of the Burnley goals came from corners, the 14th-minute opener flicked home by Stephen Ward and the crucial third headed in by Ben Mee in first-half stoppage time.

That meant the Town fightback threatened by Joe Lolley’s neat 44th-minute strike was short-lived.

The lively forward halved a Burnley lead which had been stretched by Sam Vokes’ close-range finish on the half hour.

It was probably more than Town deserved after a lukewarm showing, and it was a big shame to see Mee meet David Jones’ flag kick from the Burnley right with a straightforward header at the near post.

Sean Dyche’s side kept things relatively simple, but did the basics very well.

Wagner’s system relies on fast reactive pressure and crisp passing, but neither were obvious before the break.

Town improved after it, but the goal which would have livened things up failed to come.

Now there is more need than ever to snap a three-game losing sequence in derbies against Leeds.