Mark Robins hopes fielding a more experienced Huddersfield Town defence will help provide some home comforts after his side crashed to a 5-1 derby defeat at Leeds.

Town led through Danny Ward, but Ross McCormack levelled with the first of his three goals in first-half stoppage time.

Leeds then made light of the turmoil going on behind the scenes at Elland Road to record their biggest victory over Town since a 5-0 home triumph in October 1946 .

After four straight defeats in all competitions and three running in away Championship games, Robins wants a positive response against Wigan at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.

Nottingham Forest then visit on Tuesday, February 11, and the manager hopes injured trio James Vaughan , Jonathan Hogg and Joel Lynch will all be back in the frame along with Adam Hammill .

“Joel is back in training and I’m hoping James will return early this week and that Jonathan will also be available next Saturday,” said Robins, who had captain Peter Clarke on the bench again and sent on now fully-fit striker Martin Paterson as a substitute.

“It would be too easy to make their absence an excuse, and I’m not going to do that, or hammer the younger lads who have come in.

“But we did show some naivety, and while we pride ourselves on giving young players opportunities, that has to be balanced against earning points.

“There are some players who need a rest after a tough spell of matches, and having more experience, especially at the back, could help us find a response to this defeat.

“No defeat is nice, particularly one like this and against local rivals, but sometimes you get kicked in the teeth and you have to move on.

“That’s what we aim to do, and we have big games coming up when we need to be much better.”

Robins will today run checks on defenders Paul Dixon (hip) and Anthony Gerrard, who was forced off after a collision with keeper Alex Smithies as Leeds scored their fifth.

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