Valerien Ismael was frustrated with Blackburn Rovers' first-half performance at Portsmouth as they fell to a fourth successive defeat.
Any faint hopes of a top-six charge are over for Rovers as they fell to another defeat against a newly-promoted team. They have won four of their last 19 and their current run leaves them with little chance of making up the five point deficit.
Josh Murphy's first-half strike was enough to earn Pompey the three points. They did not have to be brilliant after scoring to win with Rovers showing little ability to break them down and pose a real threat on goal.
"It's a big disappointment, especially how we approached the first half," Ismael said.
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"We expected much, much more. We knew that it would be difficult at the beginning, with the pressure, the energy.
"I think that we started good the first 10-15 minutes, but then the injury changed the rhythm of the game a little bit. Then we conceded the first shot, a goal. After that, we were not really in danger.
"We finished the first half much better, with some great chances to score. Second half was much better. I think that's exactly what we expected from the players, to play with more confidence.
"We know that we need to change the mentality from low block and to be more proactive on the pitch. We know it takes time but the players need to believe more in that because they've got the quality. What we missed just in the second half was, again, the last bit in the final third.
"To be more dangerous, to give that feeling that we scored at any time and it was too many square balls, back passes, square balls. At some point, we need to take the chance on our side, and to risk everything to shoot and hit the target."
Rovers' season is petering out with a whimper after yet another defeat to a bottom-eight club. The lack of fight and urgency in their first-half display has done little to aid fans' growing anger.
Ismael agreed that it's a big problem for Rovers at the moment and hopes a turn in results will help inject more confidence.
"I think it's the same picture since now many games," he continued.
"It's just to implement that belief, the way we want to play, to create new habits. Again, we will use the game to work with the player, to make sure when we are in the position we need to be more dangerous in the box.
"You have to first keep a clean sheet and stay in the game. We knew that it would be a fight. We knew that we were not surprised.
"It's a big, big frustration at the minute. We have to stay positive. It's another game again next week.
"As I said, the first thing is to be focused on the next game to make sure we can win and get the three points. When you get the three points, then you come back with confidence."
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