Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat, felt his team should have earned a point after the Black Cats lost 1-0 to West Ham on Saturday.
Advocaat was brought in to guide Sunderland away from relegation as Gus Poyet's replacement until the end of the season, but the Dutchman got a taste of the hard work ahead to secure their top-flight status.
Sunderland sit just one spot above the relegation zone, so Advocaat was unhappy not to come away with at least a draw against a West Ham squad who were without a league win since Jan. 18.
"We deserved more, especially the way they scored a goal," Advocaat said. "The game was equal, not a lot of chances for both sides.
"Very difficult game but our team did really well working-wise, fighting-wise, because West Ham is a very difficult team to play against."
Diafra Sakho scored the only goal of the game, but Sunderland players were left calling for a foul by Nene on Sebastian Larrson in a clash moments before that went unpunished.
On the possibility of there being a foul in the build-up to the goal, the veteran Dutchman added: "All my players said it was a foul but I don't want to start already with blaming anybody, but everybody can see it..."
Advocaat, who felt Jermain Defoe should have done better with his first-half chance, refused to be too downhearted despite the defeat.
He said: "Not the result, but for me the game was very positive."
Adam Johnson came off the bench in the closing stages. England international Johnson, 27, has been bailed until April 28 following his arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16 and returned to training this week following a club suspension.
"I spoke with him in the week. Life goes on. He did well," Advocaat said. "He is a very good player. I was happy I could bring him on. That is good to know for the game versus Newcastle."
Sunderland have won four Tyne-Wear derbies in a row, Johnson scoring in three of those including a stoppage-time winner earlier this season.