JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink was disappointed with the way his Brewers team conceded goals at key moments as they went down 3-0 to Sunderland.
The dismissal of Josh Earl for a second yellow card in the second half was also a killer blow for Albion after they had started well after the interval.
Hasselbaink said: “We didn’t start the game well but to get a goal against from a second phase free kick is disappointing, as was the second goal.
“Even though we weren’t at the races in that first half hour, those set pieces you need to defend better.
“We started really well in the second half. I had to change the system as we couldn’t get a foothold in the game. But then Josh gets a second yellow card, and it is stupid how we got that. I can’t defend him. He has a yellow card, and he needs to stay away from that incident as he knows referees can give cards in those situations. And then it becomes very difficult against a Sunderland team playing with ten men.
“It’s not going to be a smooth ride. It’s still a big job, it’s just the manner of how we conceded the goals that disappoints me. It was always going to be hard against Sunderland and it’s not a shame to lose 3-0 to them.
“But we are still playing at the Pirelli Stadium and we can’t be turned over that easily.”
The Brewers gave a debut to new signing Mike Fondop.
Hasselbaink said: “He is an option, he can give Lucas and Kane a break and that’s what we are after and hopefully we can put balls in the box, and he can score goals for us.”
Now the Brewers must pick themselves up and go again at Charlton on Tuesday .
He said: “We need to focus and look at what has gone wrong and what needs to go better. We finish with this match on Monday and then move on to Charlton.”