Sunday 15 February 2015 07:13, UK
Mark Hughes admitted that the better team won after his Stoke City side were beaten 4-1 by Championship Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Stoke had taken the lead at Ewood Park through Peter Crouch, before Joshua King headed in an equaliser in the 35th minute on Saturday.
It was clear that the former Blackburn boss was taking the competition seriously as he started with a side full of first-team regulars, while Rovers boss Gary Bowyer made eight changes.
Hughes said: “We got our noses in front and you think we have a bit of a platform.
“But we allowed Blackburn a few opportunities, didn't defend a corner properly - which has been a bit of a problem for us this year - and we needed to get to half-time intact and change a few things.
"To concede the penalty and lose a man is too difficult for us, which it shouldn't have been."
The straight red card for Geoff Cameron and subsequent penalty which was scored by Rudy Gestede took Stoke into the break 2-1 down.
The former Manchester United player won the competition four times - three with United and once with Chelsea.
"All in all, it was a very poor performance," he added. "Blackburn executed their game plan far better and we didn't deal with their front guys.
"I was disappointed as a whole. We didn't do the fundamentals. It doesn't matter who you are up against, you need to do them.
"I have no complaints."
Stoke will now concentrate on the Premier League and a top-10 finish.
