Ritchie saw Huddersfield's play-off hopes slip further away (Getty)

Huddersfield Town manager Andy Ritchie has admitted the play-offs are probably beyond his side after losing at home to Southend United on Saturday.

The 2-1 home defeat left Town 10 points adrift of the top six in League One with just nine games remaining.

Ritchie told BBC Radio Leeds: "Probably the play-offs are out of the window now with that result.

"But we've got a lot of points to fight for and we want to win as many games as we can."

Ritchie was incensed at the way Huddersfield conceded in the third minute of second half stoppage time to slump to their seventh home defeat of the season.

"I'm absolutely livid," he said. "We've fought so hard to get back into the game in the second half - I thought we played really well and made them look pretty ordinary.

It's beyond me how they cannot just keep them out for another two minutes - it's criminal Andy Ritchie

"We got ourselves back into the game and then one run from midfield, nobody goes with him and we let them score a cheap goal at the end - it's not good enough.

"I don't lose my cool very much but I lost it in there.

"It's beyond me how they cannot just keep them out for another two minutes - it's criminal."

Ritchie also revealed that midfielder Danny Schofield has been in talks with an un-named club about a move away from the Galpharm Stadium.

The 27-year-old has been given permission to leave at the end of the season for personal reasons.

Schofield has been in talks with an un-named club (Getty)

"He's had a chat with a club and I believe the talks went quite well, so I'll be speaking to Danny to see what the outcome is," said Ritchie.

But Ritchie has insisted that until a move is agreed, Schofield remains in his plans.

"He's still part of our team - he's not gone on loan anywhere, " he added.

"There's still a chance that he might figure in our side because we need as many bodies as can get."