Nahki Wells came off the bench to score his third goal of the season last night, however it was not enough to prevent Huddersfield from losing 3-1 away to Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship.

David Wagner’s side paid a heavy price for not being able to defend free kicks as Tom Clarke and Alex Baptiste got on the end of Paul Gallagher crosses to put the home side 2-0 up at break.

Dropped after the team’s loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, Wells gave Huddersfield late hope with a headed goal from a free kick in the 81st minute.

“Disappointing result but we go again and try to put it right on Saturday! See you all at the John Smiths,” Wells tweeted afterwards.

The Bermuda striker had come on at the start of the second half for Elias Kachunga as Huddersfield made a double substitution to try to get back in the game, with Preston leading through goals in the sixth and 42nd minutes.

A third goal in the 53rd minute left Huddersfield facing successive defeats for the first time this season as they dropped to fourth in the Championship.

“To be fair, the explanation for our performance is very easy, we weren’t on the aggression that we normally are,” Wagner, the Huddersfield coach, said.

“If you want to be successful here against Preston you have to be aggressive, especially in the first line to defend the ball and keep the ball. This is what we completely missed.

“In the end, three set pieces decided the game. But credit to Preston, Gallagher is a great deliverer and unfortunately we were not able to defend these balls.

“It was a weakness in that game yes, but my bigger concern is that we didn’t have our fighting attitude. In the second half it was better, but the first half was not good enough.”

Victory would have moved Huddersfield level on points with Newcastle United, who won 2-0 away to Barnsley on Tuesday. Newcastle replaced Norwich City in top spot after the Canaries squandered a 2-0 half-time lead against Fulham to draw 2-2.

Newcastle have 28 points, Norwich 27 and Brighton and Huddersfield 25. Huddersfield are at home to lowly Derby County this weekend.

In last night’s other Championship game Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 in Cardiff.

Peter Whittingham gave the home side the lead in the ninth minute, with Daniel Pudil drawing Wednesday level ten minutes into the second half.