Huddersfield Town v MK Dons: Pressure growing as Town strive to halt their form slump

Criticism from chairman Dean Hoyle in the club's match programme failed to inspire the dressing room last weekend and Town crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Exeter City.

Although Town supporters have been invited to celebrate the 'Seventies' tonight, with general admission reduced to just 7, anything less than a victory is likely to dampen the party spirit.

Captain Peter Clarke says Hoyle is entitled to his opinion and agrees that performances need to improve if the club is to win promotion to the Championship.

"It's frustrating for everyone but, ultimately, we are after the same goal," he said.

"When we don't play as well as we know we can do, it frustrates us all.

"It does not make for a good weekend and it affects everyone.

"You don't just walk out of the Galpharm (Stadium) and it's left there. It certainly isn't," he added. "Ultimately, we have to raise the tempo and performances and from there results should come. It was frustrating on Saturday but we have a chance to quickly right the wrongs."

Clark, who is approaching his second anniversary as Town manager, is set to make changes tonight with goalkeeper Alex Smithies and on-loan strikers Alan Lee and Benik Afobe pushing for recalls.

Town have lost four of their last eight league games and slipped to ninth in the League One table but are still only one adrift of the play-off zone.

They have also reached the Northern Area semi-finals of the Johnstone Paints Trophy and host League Two side Macclesfield this weekend in the second round of the FA Cup.

However, thanks to heavy investment in the squad, the stakes have been raised. Play-off qualification is a minimum target and Clark, whose side were beaten play-off semi-finalists last season, has to deliver.

Striker Lee Novak (hamstring), midfielder Tom Clarke (knee) and defender Gary Naysmith (foot) remain long-term absentees.

The Dons will be without former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick who picked up his fifth booking of the season during his club's 4-1 weekend defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday.

Town defender Nathan Clarke, meanwhile, has turned down the opportunity of a loan move to Rotherham United.

Millers manager Ronnie Moore said: "He doesn't want to come, which I find astounding because he's third-choice there and not getting a game.

"I don't know if he's waiting for Real Madrid to come in but he'll have a long wait!"