Clark puts defeat in perspective

29 November 2011 07:16

Lee Clark admitted his Huddersfield side's first defeat in 44 league games paled into insignificance in the wake of the death of close friend Gary Speed.

Town's record-breaking run was halted by first half goals from Yann Kermorgant and Hogan Ephraim as Charlton moved seven points clear at the head of League One with a 2-0 victory. But Clark insisted the loss of Speed, his former Newcastle United team-mate, overshadowed events at The Valley.

He said: "This is a big boys' game and sometimes you get a knock-back but I've had the biggest knock-back ever. Don't think this defeat doesn't hurt but what happened yesterday morning has put everything in perspective. It was a hammer blow when we got the news travelling down to London."

Clark added: "I only had a short time in terms of being a colleague of Gary's but we hit it off straight away and became very close. He was a fantastic player but if you times that by a million, you'll find out what the man was like as well.''

Clark was frustrated at a controversial throw-in decision in the build up to Charlton's second goal and said: "My lads should have been switched on but the ref pointed for a throw and then let the linesman overrule him.''

Charlton manager Chris Powell was delighted to have claimed such a significant scalp as his side took control of the division's promotion race.

He said: "For us to be the ones who stopped their record is pleasing and everyone will remember us as the ones who did it.

"But there are plenty of games still to go. We have done nothing yet. It was a good advert for League One. They settled quicker than us but as the game went on we grew in confidence. It was a big occasion. I tried to play it down with the squad but it was a big game for a lot of them and they came through well."

Kermorgant was stretchered off at the end but Powell insisted the striker will be soon be back in action. The manager said: "He's okay, it was a twist and it's not too serious.''

Source: PA