Chris Powell says Huddersfield Town have to ensure their 5-0 drubbing at Norwich City was a “one-off”.
The boss began preparations for Saturday’s visit of Birmingham City in the wake of his heaviest defeat as a manager.
Anthony Gerrard is on stand-by for a first outing of the season because fellow centre-back Murray Wallace will be suspended following his red card at Carrow Road while Joel Lynch is unlikely to be fit after his groin injury.
Wallace was sent off for a professional foul on Huddersfield-born striker Cameron Jerome after just 15 minutes, and while Town survived until the break, they were undone by a blast of three goals in the first six minutes of the second half.
A heaviest defeat since the 6-1 setback at Nottingham Forest in February 2013 left Town 17th in the Championship and with a goal difference of minus 11. Only basement side Blackpool, on minus 17, are worse off.
Meanwhile Birmingham rose to 15th with a 6-1 home victory over Reading. It was their third win in four.
Powell, whose previous worst managerial loss was Charlton Athletic’s 4-0 home defeat by Fulham in the FA Cup third round in January 2011, admitted: “We can’t let a defeat like this happen again.
“We have to treat it as a one-off and make sure it is a one-off. As manager, I have to get a reaction for the next game and make sure we bounce back in a really positive manner.
“I have to be consistent in my character and behaviour, and I have decisions to make regarding team selection.”
