HUDDERSFIELD Town boss Lee Clark admitted he was hurting after today's 3-0 play-off final defeat to Peterborough United.
Three Posh goals in seven second- half minutes courtesy of Tommy Rowe, Craig Mackail-Smith and Grant McCann snatched promotion for Peterborough.
Town had not lost in 27 previous league and play-off games, and Clark, 38, said in the press conference after the match: "We knew this was a one-off game but the players don’t have to feel ashamed about anything that has happened this season.
"The scoreline is harsh but take nothing away from Peterborough.
"The one consolation is that a good man in Darren Ferguson and some good people at Peterborough have gone up.
"They withstood what we threw at them and then hit us with a treble. They got the touch in for the free-kick for the first, the second was deflected and then the lads lost a bit of shape.
"It wasn’t to be but they didn’t deserve to lose 3-0. I’m hurting and I need to get away and spend some quality time with my wife and three children.
"I need to get my batteries recharged because I’m physically and mentally drained and then come back and see where we go.
"I know what it takes to bounce back because I’ve done it before.
"We’ve had an unbelievable season but we haven’t achieved our goal."
