Terriers can make immediate amends, says Lee

The 32-year-old, a late substitute in the Terriers’ defeat to Peterborough United at Old Trafford, suffered a contrasting end to the season compared to 12 months earlier.

Then, he had scored one of the goals as Crystal Palace claimed a 2-2 draw at Hillsborough to relegate Sheffield Wednesday.

There was to be no similar happy ending at the home of Manchester United but Lee insists Town can bounce back from the 3-0 loss to Posh and go on to be successful next term.

Huddersfield’s veteran striker, who moved to the Galpharm Stadium in the August transfer window, said: “It wasn’t our day. Congratulations to Peterborough as they took the bull by the horns, while we had a crazy 10 minutes.

“I was bitterly disappointed for the younger lads, who deserved better. But we stick together and crack on. We have to keep a bit of this spirit and go on and win the league next season.

“I feel we have learned a lot since Christmas. If we’d played anything like that level in the first half of the season we would be up.

“Everyone was very low in the dressing room. There was a lot of pain and a lot of people were shell-shocked. So much hard work had gone into the season.

“But all that is gone. We have a great club, great support and excellent players, so we have to take that into next season. We have to aim to be champions.

“We have such great characters in the dressing room and we can come back stronger from this.”

Town’s defeat at Old Trafford was their first in a play-off final, the West Yorkshire club having beaten Bristol Rovers at Wembley in 1995 and Mansfield Town in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium nine years later.

It meant a heartbreaking end to what had, until Sunday, been a hugely enjoyable season for the Terriers.

Not only had Lee Clark’s side given Arsenal an almighty scare in the FA Cup fourth round, but they also went 27 games unbeaten before finally succumbing in Sunday’s play-off final to Peterborough.

With Town also reaching the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area final and the Carling Cup second round, it meant they played more games than any other in the country.

First team coach Paul Stephenson said: “The lads have played 61 games this season and been a credit to the area.

“What we have got is fantastic ability and what the lads, staff and everyone have to do is try and learn from the first half of the season.

“We had a fantastic second half and if we can take that into the new campaign then there is no reason why we can’t push for automatic promotion again next year.”