Scott Parker admitted a slow start had cost West Ham United dear in Saturday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Bolton Wanderers.
Kevin Davies and Jack Wilshere took advantage of individual errors to put the Trotters two goals clear within 16 minutes. Although Alessandro Diamanti pulled one back with his eighth goal of the season with two minutes remaining, it was not enough.
"It was a very frustrating afternoon," said the reigning Hammer of the Year. "It was a poor result and a poor start from us. We didn't come out of the blocks at all, started the game really badly and a couple of individual errors cost us.
"As a team we didn't start well and before we knew it, we were 2-0 down. When you're 2-0 down within 15 minutes, it is always going to be tough. We got a goal back late on and, to be honest, we didn't deserve anything out of the game, the way we played. Having said that, we did have some good chances, but we didn't have a cutting edge."
Bolton's two early goals silenced a Boleyn Ground crowd that had been in vociferous mood before kick-off, and Parker admitted the Hammers faithful had every right to be disappointed with the team's performance.
"I just felt that the crowd were a little bit restless and rightly so, because we didn't really give them anything to go on. When you're out there, it's always difficult, and when you feel the edginess of the fans, which was rightly so, it was always going to be hard. After a little while, although we kept digging in, it became increasingly difficult."
Having avoided a tenth booking of the season and an automatic two-game ban, Parker will take his place in the West Ham midfield at former club Chelsea next Saturday.
Having played for the Blues, the 29-year-old knows the Hammers will have to be at their very best to emulate last year's 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
"It's going to be a tough game. We'd like to have come out of this game with three points or at least one. Having said that, we went there last year and got something.
"The one thing we need to do at Stamford Bridge is to start the game right and, if we do, and we get the fundamentals right, then we have a chance. When you go to Chelsea, you're always going to be up against a good, good team, so it's going to be difficult."