Southampton manager Will Still said his side gave themselves a "mountain to climb" in their 3-1 defeat by Bristol City.
Saints were 1-0 up but conceded two Scott Twine goals in seven second-half minutes to eventually lose - their third in the league this campaign.
"We've been totally dominant and in control for the first half again, scored a great goal and created three if not four really big opportunities to kill the game off and win it," Still told BBC Radio Solent.
"[We] come back out after the break, played really well for 10, 15 minutes, hit the crossbar, somehow missed from a couple of yards out.