Alex Dyer has conceded that his West Ham United were second-best in the 2-1 Barclays Premier Reserve League defeat by Manchester City.
The Hammers held the upper hand in terms of both possession and territory at Thurrock FC's Ship Lane, but it was the visitors who created the better chances throughout the 90 minutes.
Abdisalam Ibrahim broke the deadlock with a low drive on 57 minutes before Jeremy Helan's left-wing cross-shot was diverted past Marek Stech by an unfortunate Winston Reid eight minutes later.
Frank Nouble pulled a goal back with 19 minutes remaining, heading in Olly Lee's cross, but Dyer's side could not fashion an equaliser in the closing stages.
"I thought we started the game quite well but we lacked a bit of urgency and tempo in our game. I thought in the first half that they were there for the taking.
"We came in nil-nil at half time and I told the boys that if they could up their game five or ten per cent then we could get something out of this game.
"Then we had a period in the game where they took control of the game, moved the ball better than us and scored two good goals in a short space of time and that left us chasing the game a little bit.
"To be fair to the boys, they reacted well and got back in it, scored a good goal through Frank Nouble but we just ran out of time. Overall, it was probably a fair result because, from our point of view, we could have done a lot more."
The reserves have now lost their last two league matches after opening the 2010/11 season with three straight victories.
Dyer knows his side will have to improve if they are to get back to winning ways when they travel to reigning champions Aston Villa on Monday 15 November.
"They had the better chances, but we had most of the possession. We just didn't use that possession. Some players' touches weren't great and the movement could have been better from the front two.
"The boys did try and they're a good bunch, but they were just lacking a bit of quality at times. In the past, that quality has been there.
"They've done all right but, because they have standards, I expect more from them. Today wasn't our day."