Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson thought that his side gave Coventry City too many gifts at Sixfields Stadium in their 4-2 defeat.
"We should have been out of sight in the first half. I thought we were outstanding and they could not live with our formation. But for a few mis-placed passes we might have got there," Ferguson said to the Press Association.
"The first two goals we gave away were awful and you cannot give goals away like that against one of the best teams in the division.
"But for their 10-point penalty they might be challenging (for promotion) and they yet still might, you never know.
"We knew it would be tough and we knew it would be open but that suited us, but you simply cannot start a half like we did after the break.
"That gave them a lift and for the next 15 minutes or so they created a few chances. I thought we had got through that but unfortunately it did not turn out to be the case."