Saturday 30 April 2016 18:16, UK
Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black says his side were "outstanding" despite a 3-2 defeat by Watford.
Villa, who had 10 men for the final stages after Aly Cissokho's sending off, were 2-1 up heading into stoppage time, but Troy Deeney's double gave Watford all three points.
But Black insists the showing was much-improved and professional, having taken the lead twice through Ciaran Clark and then Jordan Ayew, and had no complaints with Cissokho's dismissal for a last-man foul on Ikechi Anya.
"I thought we were outstanding, but for the sending off, which happens in football, I thought we were comfortable. I thought we would run out winners and looked like scoring probably before they did.
"[Cissokho's] won the ball but lifts his leg on the follow through so I think the ref's interpretation is probably correct.
"However it's harsh on us as I thought they were outstanding, stuck to the game plan and deserved more. They put a lot of energy in and deserved more.
"That's professional football, and that's what you have to take on the chin, but it was a professional performance. We end up with no points but we deserved more, that's football."
It was Villa's 11th straight Premier League defeat, and with Newcastle up next at Villa Park, another loss would break an all-time club record, something Black says the players are fully aware of.
"I think today's performance deserved to break that," said Black. "It's not a record we wanted to have, and we spoke about it before the game, but we'll do our utmost to get the win next week.
"It's a hard day for them, a difficult day, but they can be proud of their efforts."
