Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has admitted that his side were second best in their 4-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion.
West Brom took the lead through Peter Odemwingie after just three minutes, and O'Neill believes that the early goal was a decisive moment in the game.
The former Aston Villa boss also warned his side that they are not good enough to get away with being second best in large periods of games.
"The early goal knocked us back a bit but it shouldn't have done. It shouldn't be a decisive moment," said the Northern Irishman.
"We were second best for all of the first-half and at the end of the day we were deservedly beaten. It was a tough one to take because it was certainly unlike us in recent times not to compete and just have a real appetite for it.
"At this moment we are not good enough to go 10-15 minutes in a game and play second fiddle to teams. We had to work really hard to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup and today we didn't seem to have that energy. There is no excuse. We were well beaten."
The result sees West Brom move to within one point of Sunderland in the Premier League.
