David Moyes insists Sunderland are close to turning the corner despite another defeat, this time at Southampton in the EFL Cup.
Sofiane Boufal's wonder strike knocked the Black Cats, bottom of the Premier League without a win all season, out of the only competition that has provided a glimmer of hope on Wearside.
To add to Moyes' misery, he was sent to the stands after disputing referee Chris Kavanagh's decision not to award a last-gasp penalty when Maya Yoshida tripped Victor Anichebe in the area.
But the Sunderland boss said: "We didn't deserve to lose that's for sure.