Oldham Athletic boss John Sheridan finds defeat to Burton Albion on Wednesday night "tough to take" after the Latics threw away a 2-1 lead.
Albion booked their spot in the second round of the Carabao Cup thanks to second-half goals from Luke Varney, Matty Lund and Lucas Akins.
Varney put the visitors ahead just after half-time, but Oldham then raced into that 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Paul Green and a Craig Davies spot-kick.
But Nigel Clough's men replied almost instantly through Lund, before Akins' late penalty following a foul on Damien McCrory by the impressive Oldham winger Ryan McLaughlin.
A tight first-half saw Oldham go close through Aaron Holloway, but his header was tipped onto the post by the Brewers' debutant goalkeeper Connor Ripley on his return to the club where he spent last season on loan from Middlesbrough.
Once Davies slammed his penalty home on the 67th minute, Oldham failed to kill the game off and allowed Burton a route straight back into the game.
"It is tough to take because we have lost," Sheridan told the Latics' website.
"I wanted to win and get through but I was really disappointed with the way we started the game.
"I was an angry man at half time but I did think we got back into it at the end of the first half and had a couple of chances.
"We possibly should have gone ahead but Aaron (Holloway) hit the post with a header but it was an excellent save."
Sheridan also described Varney's 46th-minute opener as "comical".
Varney rounded Oldham keeper Ben Wilson after Ousmane Fane's short back-pass put Wilson under pressure and gifted Varney a first goal of the season.
"We started the game really slow and I was getting angrier and angrier," added Sheridan.
"I had a few things to say to them at half time, and then their first goal is a bit comical isn’t it?
"We were playing a Championship side and just gave them the advantage but the good thing was we responded really well.
"We got back in the game and took the lead but we can’t give goals away like we do.
"We played a Championship side and competed well but we just need a little bit of luck."
Sheridan also addressed the penalty decision by referee Scott Duncan that saw McLaughlin trip Damien McCrory right under the nose of Duncan.
Oldham Athletic 2-3 Burton Albion
"I don’t know if it was in the box but I thought it was a very soft penalty," admitted Sheridan.
"Ryan said he got a touch on the ball but I couldn’t really see from where I was. I think Ryan should be reacting quicker but I don’t know if it was a penalty."
