Grant McCann admitted Hull City “weren’t good enough” in the disappointing 1-0 defeat by Burton Albion.
Debutant Jonny Smith’s last-minute winner condemned the Tigers to a surprise loss against the division’s bottom side.
“We just weren’t good enough,” admitted McCann.
“We lacked any sort of killer instinct about us today. Things were petering out in the final third.
“We didn’t look like scoring – at all. Movement wasn’t good enough, cleverness wasn’t good enough in and around the box.
“When we did cross the ball, it got blocked or hit the first man.