Junior Stanislas admitted that the gloss of making his first West Ham United appearance since 17 October had been taken off by the nature of Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Everton.
The lively winger made a hugely positive impact following his half-time introduction during the Barclays Premier League clash, forcing Tony Hibbert to put through his own net and causing the Toffees right-back problems throughout the second half.
The 19-year-old was pleased to return to first-team duty after maintaining a watching brief from the substitutes bench in recent weeks. However, that pleasure was tainted by the disappointment of Everton snatching an unlikely victory at the Boleyn Ground.
"We dominated most of the game, certainly all of the second half," Stanislas said. "They had a couple of shots and scored from them, so it's disappointing from that point of view. I think we did well second half and deserved to win."
Like any professional footballer, Stanislas would rather be on the pitch than sitting in the dugout, but he understood why manager Gianfranco Zola has looked at other options in recent fixtures.
"Obviously I'm young as well so I can't really complain. I've just got to take my chances when they come. I've scored one and probably should have scored two as well so I'm disappointed there but it's obviously more good experience for me."
The England Under-21 player, who will report for duty this week ahead of Saturday's UEFA European Championship qualifier with Portugal at Wembley, added that he intended to stake a claim for Hibbert's own-goal.
Stanislas clipped Alessandro Diamanti's pass over the advancing Tim Howard and towards the target, only for Hibbert to slice his attempted clearance into the roof of the net.
In truth, the south London-born player may have some trouble convincing that Barclays Premier League's Dubious Goals Committee, that the goal should be added to his tally, but it will not stop the teenager from trying.
"I've got to claim it, haven't I? Perhaps he should have cleared it, but thankfully it's gone in and given us a chance, but we didn't take that chance."