TOWN defender Nathan Clarke summed up feelings in the Galpharm camp after his first Bradford derby ended in defeat.

"We are all absolutely gutted," said the 21-year-old centre-back, probably the most consistent of Peter Jackson's squad at the moment.

"It was one of the biggest games of the season, we were all looking forward to it and then it just didn't happen for us.

"Everyone is disappointed, as we know the fans are, and it's important we get our heads up from here on in.

"We needed the three points because we don't want to be too far off the play-off placings - and we've now got to start believing we are going to get in that top six and start picking up the points we need."

Clarke starred alongside Efe Sodje in a flat back four in the second half, when David Mirfin was taken off and replaced by Danny Schofield in a 4-4-2 set-up.

"It won't worry us if the gaffer decides to go to a flat back four, because man for man we are better than most sides," added Clarke.

"The important thing is to forget we've been beaten by Bradford and to look ahead really positively.

"No-one was happy with the way we played in the first half and the gaffer let us know about it, but we changed it around and played much better in the second half. Now, we've got to take that forward into the Port Vale game, train well all week and get back to our best."