Nigel Clough believes Burton Albion wasted their opportunity for a positive result in the first 45 minutes against Cardiff City as their season opened with a sickening late defeat.
It was a 93rd minute winner by Rhys Healey that downed Albion at the Cardiff City Stadium back in January - and this time Kenneth Zohore popped up in the 87th minute to curl in the only goal of the game.
The Bluebirds had been building towards a winner in the second half as they pinned the Brewers deeper and deeper in their own half.
But it may have been a different story had Burton capitalised on some openings during the first 45, with Jackson Irvine lifting over when he was put through and Marvin Sordell failing to turn home a low cross from Lloyd Dyer as the Brewers got in behind Cardiff's well-organised defence.
Instead, the Brewers were left with an all-to-familiar feeling as they struggled to impose themselves after the break and eventually succumbed to Zohore's effort - even though Clough thought his players had done the hard work already.
"I thought a draw would've been a fair result today," said the Albion boss.
"They put us under pressure in the second half, but I thought we missed our opportunity during the first half.
"I think we played well enough and had enough situations to get a goal.
"But we didn't capitalise on it, and then they came out and, for about a 15-minute spell, it was like the Alamo in the second half.
"We dealt with all that, though - and then it's a brilliant finish that beats us in the end."
