Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton believed that Glenn Murray’s second half penalty miss was the turning point during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Leicester City.
The Seagulls boss conceded that the striker’s saved effort was pivotal in the outcome of the contest, but also backed his man to react positively to the disappointment.
He said, "I think if we scored the penalty we would've won the game, but it happens. Glenn's been very good for us this season and he has scored penalties - all he can do is react in the right way.
“I didn't see us drop from that moment, but I did see them get the lift they needed.
"There'll be nobody down more than what Glenn will be. You either score or you don't - the 'keeper lets it in or saves it. These things will always happen.”
Albion are back in action next weekend when they host Huddersfield Town at the Amex , and the manager was keen for his men to react to the disappointment of the weekend’s defeat – stressing that each of the team’s last seven matches of the campaign are as vital as the other.
"Huddersfeld is a massive game for us. But I think they all are. In this league you finish your game and see the other results. And other results either go for you or they don't, and we're all in that boat.
“You're either going to get a good result, and if you don't, you hope the others slip up.
"At this moment I don't think one more win is enough. But I have to think that way, I can't afford to think anything different. Nobody knows what it will take, but we have to set our mark higher than only another three points."
The home side dominated the contest against the Foxes for large spells, but Claude Puel’s men ran out winners despite the boss believing his side did enough to get something from the contest.
"It's frustrating and disappointing, but that's top level football. It was a game that I couldn't see us losing so if you can't see your team losing then it's about going to win the game.
"I thought for the strengths they have as a team, we nullified them very well and had chances ourselves, but you've got to put them away.
"I think the lift they got from the penalty miss spurred them on to get the first goal - the second was immaterial because at that stage we'd put Shane Duffy upfront and we had to go for it.”