Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez was left disappointed by his team's efforts as they lost 2-1 to Southampton.
First-half goals from Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert either side of John Terry's header ensured it was Saints who claimed the points and Benitez admitted the performance was not good enough as they dropped to fourth.
"You have to be really disappointed when you do not win," the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
"In the first half we did not play with the intensity required. In the second half we were much better and had more chances but the decisions in the final third were wrong. At least we had chances.
"We knew we were in a really good position and we're still in a good position but in the remaining games we must do something more and win.
"We have to start thinking about the next game as we cannot change the result now."
That next game is an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United on Monday and that fixture surely played its part in Chelsea making seven changes for the game at St Mary's.
Asked if he had been forced into resting the likes of Eden Hazard, Benitez said: "You say it, we were forced to do it and we did it."
The travelling Chelsea supporters were again left frustrated by the manager's substitutions as Demba Ba was left on the bench despite the team trailing.
Asked if he now considers dissenting voices a normal part of life at the club, Benitez said: "I concentrate on the game. That is it."
Jason Banton's 45th-minute strike in front of a Devon derby crowd of 13,251 at Home Park lifted the Pilgrims to 20th place, four points above the drop zone - and John Sheridan's side also have a game in hand.
Banton's effort went in off the post, while Jamie Cureton missed a great chance for Exeter late on.
At the Pirelli Stadium, Drew Talbot's 52nd-minute goal gave Chesterfield a narrow victory over automatic promotion hopefuls Burton Albion.
Gillingham stretched their lead at the top of the table to six points despite being forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at play-off hopefuls Fleetwood.
Starting the day five points clear of closest rivals Port Vale, it took Gills just three minutes to open the scoring when Danny Kedwell fired home from the edge of the box.
Jamille Matt equalised for Fleetwood just past the half-hour and after Charlie Allen put the visitors back in front, Matt struck again to seal a point.
York crawled off the bottom of the table after battling to a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers, but Plymouth's win means the Minstermen still find themselves three points off safety.
