PETER Clarke’s first half header consigned Millwall to their first defeat in 12 games at Huddersfield Town this evening.

The result is a major setback to the Lions’ hopes of winning automatic promotion and their rivals will be only too keen to exploit this slip-up tomorrow when Charlton, Leeds and Swindon are all in action.

Marc Laird, Chris Hackett and Shaun Batt were drafted into the starting XI from the side which kicked-off Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Yeovil.

But manager Kenny Jackett had plenty of attacking options on the bench with Neil Harris, Gary Alexander and Tuesday’s scorer Jonathan Obika all named as substitutes.

Huddersfield created the first opening on three minutes when Jordan Rhodes put in a dangerous looking cross which was scrambled away by the visiting defence.

Millwall launched a quick counter but Batt pulled up in obvious pain, forcing his early replacement by Obika.

Obika went on a mazy run from almost the halfway line in the eighth minute before dragging his low shot across the face of goal.

Morison met Obika’s flick in the 16th minute but his claim to have been held back by Peter Clarke just inside the area after the striker had got past his marker was ignored by the referee.

Millwall had a lucky escape when Anthony Pilkington’s 23rd minute free-kick failed to pick out a team-mate in a packed penalty area.

The first shot on target finally arrived two minutes later when Theo Robinson tested David Forde with a low drive from 20 yards but the Lions stopper comfortably dealt with the effort.

Jack Smith conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position just two yards from the line to the left of the area for a foul on Gary Roberts, an offence which earned him a yellow card.

The free-kick was played back by Danny Drinkwater to the unmarked Anthony Kay and his 25 yard shot wasn’t far from finding the target.

Hackett’s long range shot deflected for a corner, which was punched away by Alex Smithies.

The ball was eventually pumped back into the danger zone by Smith and Morison’s ambitious 20 yard volley went just wide.

Theo Robinson headed into the side netting from a 34th minute corner and Huddersfield came close again four minutes later when Rhodes fired inches wide from Roberts’ cross.

However, the Terriers didn’t have long to wait to finally make the breakthrough when Drinkwater’s corner picked out Clarke and the former Evertonian headed past Forde at the back post.

Millwall ended the first half on the rack and can maybe consider themselves fortunate to have gone in at the midway point trailing by only one goal.

Paul Robinson’s header from Hackett’s 48th minute corner took a crucial touch off a Huddersfield player before being cleared and Pilkington went straight onto the attack before his cross was forced behind at the other end.

Theo Robinson attempted an audacious lob of Forde from the edge of the area on 54 minutes after catching Forde off his line and the Millwall keeper was relieved to see the effort go behind.

Harris entered the fray for Hackett moments later and the substitute’s cross was headed agonisingly wide by Laird.

Peter Clarke was handed a yellow card on the hour for a clumsy challenge on ex-Terrier Danny Schofield.

Huddersfield had another penalty claim ignored when Roberts’ delivery into the area struck Smith, while Harris’s cross just failed to pick out Obika at the other end.

Smith did well to put behind Lee Novak’s 67th minute cross for a corner with an unmarked Roberts ideally placed to pull the trigger.

Craig should have done better when his 71st minute free-kick into the area was easily gathered by Smithies.

However, Millwall squandered two glorious opportunities in quick succession when firstly Craig’s goal-bound shot as blocked by his own team mate and then Obika headed against the bar from Smith’s cross.

Laird fired harmlessly wide on 73 minutes but the Lions certainly looked the more likely side to get the next goal at this stage.

Alexander came on for Morison 10 minutes later for his first game since late October as Jackett played his final card.

Craig and Peter Clarke clashed after the Millwall player claimed he had been elbowed by the Huddersfield skipper as Laird’s free-kick was swung into the area.

The next chance came Craig’s way two minutes from time but his volley from 20 yards sailed harmlessly wide.

Millwall continued to struggle though and even the announcement of four minutes of stoppage time wasn’t exploited as Huddersfield comfortably held on to boost their own play-off hopes.

This was a disappointing display from the Lions and they can have few complaints with the result.

Aside from Obika hitting the bar in the second half, they created next to nothing in terms of clear chances and the result will be cheered loudly by Leeds, Charlton and Swindon fans.

Millwall: Forde, Smith, Ward, Robinson, Craig, Hackett (Harris 55), Abdou, Laird, Schofield, Batt (Obika 5), Morison (Alexander 83). Subs not used: Sullivan, Barron, Grimes, Fuseini.