Fulham's early goal killed the Town gameplan
Coming into this game off the back of an encouraging home display against Norwich City, Chris Powell appeared bullish about his side's chances against a Fulham side desperately out of form and shipping goals at an equally alarming rate to Town.
The seven-game unbeaten run Powell inspired early on in his reign feels a long time ago now, but he has strived to rediscover the lightning-quick starts to games which adorned that spell ever since and will have earmarked this game as one where he felt his team were capable of doing just that.
But within two minutes, that ploy had fallen by the wayside as Alexander Kacaniklic's corner somehow found its way through a host of bodies and into the Town net and not only was it the worst possible start, it completely altered the outlook of both sides - playing perfectly into Fulham's hands.
Town have struggled to get the better of teams who setup to frustrate them at the John Smith's Stadium and actually enjoyed more freedom against Norwich as they were on the other side of the equation, but here they were forced to try and break through obdurate defensive lines.
Only a remarkable combination of Town profligacy, a heroic goalkeeping display from Marcus Bettinelli and an awful lack of good fortune kept Powell and his men at bay before a sucker-punch second which fitted the narrative for an ultimate smash-and-grab raid.
The international break may have arrived at the best possible time
Town were certainly out of luck here and the fact that even a draw would have been a cause for frustration underlines just how dominant they were against a Fulham side who looked a far cry from the side that beat Town 3-1 in the reverse meeting.
But the numbers hardly make for good reading. Town are now without a win in six league games, have won just once in their last 10 and they have only picked up five points from a possible 21 now at home.
It's clear Powell needs some time with his players on the training field to explore just where his side are going wrong, even if he will find it particularly difficult to do so after this one-sided affair, but there was also an evident legginess to Town at times which can be cured with rest.
The upcoming international hiatus offers Town some much-needed respite and the chance for Powell to re-energise his flagging troops ahead of what is now looking to be a pivotal run of fixtures with their Championship status still not quite fully secured.
After such a poor run and with this ill-fated result perhaps the nadir of Town's consistent inconsistency, the next two weeks offer a crucial recuperation period for Powell and his players, who have been run into the ground amid a relentless run of fixtures.
Town must scour the loan window for a fillip
The search for reinforcements may not be quite as desperate as Wigan Athletic's search for a striker, or Rotherham United's incessant thirst for new blood but the threadbare nature of the Terriers squad is becoming more and more obvious.
Powell admitted post-match that Tommy Smith and Jonathan Hogg - both substituted against the Cottagers - had carried knocks throughout the game and this explained some of the fatigue shown by his side during crucial periods of the game.
He will have been delighted to welcome back Nahki Wells into the first-team fold, while the introductions of the returning Joe Lolley and young debutant Jake Charles suggest Town may just be blessed with enough options in midfield.
But the awful news of Jack Robinson's long-term injury led to a rather makeshift left-hand side of the Town defence and Smith was limited in his attacking contribution as a result.
The versatility of David Edgar may yet dig Powell out of a hole should Hogg suffer more injury trouble but all of a sudden defensive and midfield options are extremely thin on the ground and beginning to expose the club's transfer inactivity.
Powell handicapped by fringe players' failures
This was an opportunity for David Edgar to show why he is deserving of a place in the starting XI as he came into the team at the expense of Jake Carroll who, himself, failed his first-team audition with an uncertain showing against Norwich.
But this was a similarly anaemic performance from Edgar, whose hopes of extending his stay at the John Smith's beyond this summer were dealt a hefty blow here.
His utility man status has almost gone against him since being brought in from Birmingham City as he has been utilised in various positions at a time when Town's form has nosedived and he has often been the scapegoat for some poor collective performances.
On a day when various members of the team showed superior quality to Fulham in every facet of the game bar the most crucial one of all, Edgar was one player who was found wanting most as he struggled to offer any sort of impact.
Substitute Radoslaw Majewski was another who saw a big chance pass him by; his introduction was designed to offer Town added invention in midfield but he was well off the pace after emerging from the bench and it could well have been the final nail in the coffin for his future in west Yorkshire after a frustrating loan spell.
Wells must keep his head up
It is some anomaly for a player to be denied twice from the penalty spot in one game and Wells was the unfortunate man here, seemingly distracted with all that went before when Shaun Hutchinson was belatedly dismissed as he was thwarted by the outstanding Bettinelli.
The confusion that saw referee Richard Clark first send off Cauley Woodrow before correcting his own decision must surely have got into the head of the returning Bermudian, but it should not be lost on fans that his first miss owed more to the Fulham goalkeeper than his own shortcomings.
There was a suggestion to be had that his composure deserted him for the second effort, with Jazz Richards' foul on Sean Scannell presenting him with the chance to atone for his error - and he wasn't dissuaded - but the power-over-placement approach proved to be the wrong one.
It affected his performance thereon but there was enough promise in the preceding 59 minutes to suggest that Wells can add to his nine league goals this season and finally guide Town to safety as he was one of the brighter sparks of an at times predictable attack.
James Vaughan's suspension handed Wells the chance to get back amongst the goals after a five-game lay-off and his first-half effort which hit a post, some delightful touches and lay-offs and a determination to retrieve possession were in stark contrast to Ishmael Miller, who was unable to back up his influential display against Norwich.
