As comprehensive as it sounds, City were well beaten at the Galpharm Stadium. The home side will rarely have a less taxing afternoon as a lucklustre Exeter failed to produce any real quality and Jordan Rhodes came away with the match ball after scoring three in a 10 minute spell either side of half time.

As early as the 4th minute Huddersfield were forcing Jansson into a fine save, a long range effort turned away from the top corner. The resulting corner was cleared off the line by Dunne.

The home side were using width, with Pilkington and Roberts threatening each time they came forward and on 10 minutes only a last ditch block from Duffy prevented the first goal.

The reprieve almost led to a City goal as Duffy found Fleetwood from the breakdown but both his and Dunne's efforts were blocked.

But much as Huddersfield probed City were settling in to the game until they went behind. Edwards played a loose ball towards Seaborne that was intercepted by Collins. He exchanged passes with Rhodes to get behind Taylor. The ball was played into Novak who comfortably slotted home.

Five minutes later the post rescued City as a near post flick flashed across goal, struck the upright and went away to safety.

A catalogue of misplaced passes and poor decision making was blighting City. On another day they would have conceded a penalty after Edwards was caught with a long throw. He pulled at Rhodes' shoulder on the edge of the box, then continued the foul into the area. Luckily the referee decided the first foul was the one he was giving and City cleared the resulting free kick.

A succession of Huddersfield corners maintained the pressure and it seemed only a matter of time before City conceded again. Before they did Roberts had created a chance after nutmegging Duffy wide out, then, to his credit, staying on his feet as Dunne slid in as he entered the penalty area. He pulled the ball back from the byline to the near post but it was stabbed wide.

But two minutes before half time Huddersfield doubled their advantage. Edwards had played the ball out for a throw under pressure but the following cross and near post header were converted far too easily.

Deciding not to change anything at half time City began as they'd finished the first half. Casual defending was saved by the linesman's flag, but within 7 minutes of the restart the contest was over.

A sloppy ball from Russell was pounced on, Huddersfield broke down the right and Rhodes was again in the right place to flick the cross beyond Jansson. His hat-trick followed soon after as he thumped home a header.

Huddersfield had clearly done their homework on City and had allowed Noone little room. It wasn't until the hour mark that he finally got enough space to take on his marker.

By then Tisdale had decided to make a triple substitution. Cozic, Corr and Stansfield replaced Fleetwood, Harley and Stewart but the changes made little impact.

In the remaining half hour Noone had a brief site of goal but fired wide and Taylor headed against the back of a defender as he met a corner at the far post but it continued to be too easy for Huddersfield.

Jansson kept the scoreline semi-respectable with some fine saves and Ainsworth fired wide when clean through late on but the stats tell the story of the game. Huddersfield outplayed City in all areas of the pitch and the 374 City fans were given an uninspiring, weak and at times inept display in return for their support.

As Tisdale said after the game though, we have to believe we are good enough to compete in this league and we have shown more often than not that we are. Too many more days like this one though will see City in a scrap at the wrong end of the table so next weeks visit to Walsall, just a point above City takes on greater significance to restore faith and confidence.

It's one of the easier games to get to from the South West so lets put this one down to experience and get to the Bescot.

City: Jansson, Duffy, Taylor, Edwards, Seaborne, Dunne, Harley (Corr 63), Russell, Noone, Stewart (Stansfield 63), Fleetwood (Cozic 63)

Unused subs: Marriott, Tully, Archibald-Henville, Logan