Huddersfield Town boss Mark Robins believes unity is the key to ending the dismal run which has left his side trying to avoid another nerve-racking finish to a Championship campaign.

His side head into the Easter programme in desperate need of points but with Joel Lynch suspended for two games and fellow defender Peter Clarke for one.

Both were sent off after second bookable offences during the 3-1 defeat at Derby which left 17th-placed Town, who are without a win in nine games, just six points above the relegation zone.

Lynch will miss both Friday’s home game against play-off chasing Brighton, one of his former clubs, and next Monday’s trip to second-bottom Yeovil because it was his second red card this season (the other was at home to Reading in December).

He received what Robins felt was a harsh caution for time wasting before his 43rd-minute dismissal, with the score 1-1, for a foul on Patrick Bamford.

Skipper Clarke was booked early on for bringing down Will Hughes, and sent off after his 57th-minute foul on the same player brought the penalty which Chris Martin put away to make it 3-1.

Derby County (3) v Huddersfield Town (1) Joel Lynch sent off by referee Darren Deadman
Derby County (3) v Huddersfield Town (1) Joel Lynch sent off by referee Darren Deadman

Derby, for whom Johnny Russell cancelled out Nahki Wells’ opener for Town, had gone two up in the 50th minute when keeper Alex Smithies spilled a cross into his own net.

“Should Joel have been booked for time-wasting? I thought the crowd got on the back of the referee (Darren Deadman),” said Robins.

“They saw it in the first half, but not in the second when their side were winning, and overall, it seemed all the decisions which could go against us did go against us.

“Now we have to take the suspensions on the chin and try to keep playing the way we were doing before the red cards.

“I certainly thought we saw more togetherness on the pitch and a better ethic in terms of working for each other.”

Derby County 3 Huddersfield Town 1: Doug Thomson's match analysis - click here to read

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