Alan Curbishley paid tribute to the efforts of his players after the disappointment of going out of the Carling Cup quarter-finals to a late Everton goal.
A rare defensive lapse ultimately let in Yakubu Aiyegbeni for the 88th-minute winner but the manager was proud of the commitment shown against strong opposition on a freezing night at the Boleyn Ground. "We are bitterly disappointed but the players have given everything they have got," he said.
In reflecting on the decisive strike which came about after a long clearance was knocked into the area, Curbishley said: "Once it turned us around both Danny and Greeny got caught in between - and as Greeny was going to go for it, Danny headed it and that was it. They have been so strong all season - we will have to take that and get on with it. It was a mistake and we know that."
The contest had promised much with Freddie Ljungberg and Dean Ashton looking assured on their return as part of a positive 4-4-2 formation. It paid off when Carlton Cole scored the opener on 12 minutes. However, Everton, unbeaten in their ten previous matches, were always a threat and put together a fine move to equalise through Leon Osman just before half-time.
"We started ever so well and got the goal. Unfortunately I think Everton took over after that. The big difference in the first half was they were a bit sharper and a bit more physical," Curbishley added, before expressing his disappointment that a free-kick was not awarded to Dean Ashton in the build-up to the winning goal.
The manager, who had to substitute both Luis Boa Morte and Carlton Cole and was without Matthew Etherington after his groin injury suffered on Sunday, did not want to dwell on excuses and gave credit to Everton for their display. "They got on top in the first half and I think that the second half was much more even without anyone carving anything out. It was either going to be something special or a mistake either end that was going to finish the game. It looked as if it was drifting into extra time and they got the result."