LEE CLARK surveyed Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 defeat by League I automatic promotion rivals Sheffield United and vowed: “It’s not over by a long way.”

Neill Collins’ sixth-minute goal was enough to put the Blades into second above arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday and leave Town fourth.

And after an absorbing clash watched by a season’s best Galpharm gate of 15,356 including 3,857 United followers, Clark said: “We are disappointed with the outcome but not the performance.

“It was the kind of thing I was after, playing on the front foot at a high tempo and creating lots of chances.

“We missed some good opportunities – Jordan Rhodes hit a post, Sean Morrison had one cleared off the line, Danny Ward had a couple of good efforts and Oscar Gobern should have done better with his two headers.

“It just wasn’t to be, but we didn’t deserve to lose, that’s for sure.

“We conceded a poor goal early on, but the lads never gave up and kept going.

“This is not a season-defining result and it’s not over by a long way.

“It gives Sheffield United a little bit of an edge but there will be lots more twists and turns and Danny Wilson knows that too.”

Clark, who made five changes including a long-awaited recall for keeper Alex Smithies, continued: “The lads will be a bit down for a day or two, but we need to bounce back – and we will do.

“It’s just a shame it’s such a long way until the next game (at home to Exeter a week on Saturday), but we will see a positive reaction.”