Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has insisted his side's 4-0 mauling at Sunderland FC did not reflect their performance.
Wanderers fell to a first-minute Fraizer Campbell strike and a second-half Darren Bent hat-trick.
To compound matters, Sam Ricketts was sent off for two yellow cards, one of which provided Bent with a goal from the penalty spot.
"We're certainly not begrudging Sunderland their win, but certainly it wasn't the win the score-line suggests," Coyle told Sky Sports.
"We gave away cheap possession and ultimately they lobbed a hopeful ball into the box and their lad has finished it away, and all credit to him," said Coyle. "But from our point of view we're disappointed with that.
"Then we got a real foothold in the game - a really strong one - at the start of the second-half. But a few things went against us and ultimately we ended up with ten men.
"So, we'll lick our wounds, but what I did recognise was that our lads have worked ever so hard. That's a period of five games and four away from home.
"And while at home we managed to take advantage and push ourselves up the table. We came here to win and we haven't but we'll look forward to our game on Saturday now."
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