Fulham boss Roy Hodgson looked shattered after their 3-1 defeat to Sunderland.
"It's a minor consolation," he said. "It was a game we had to win and coming in 1-0 down at half-time was unbelievably cruel after the way the first half went.
"The only thing I could say remotely positive is that they kept going. I'm devastated by the result, I'm really saddened by it and sad that we couldn't win a game we believed we could."
Hodgson looked distraught after the final whistle and was jeered on his way to the dressing room.
"It will be very difficult to lift the players," he added. "At half-time it was difficult to lift them but I had great hope.
"When the second goal went in I knew it would be very hard. I don't know if we've scored three goals all season."
