Blackburn boss Steve Kean refused to be downbeat after Saturday's defeat to Everton as he insisted Rovers' performance was not a worrying one.
Rovers are now just two points above the Premier League relegation zone after a 2-0 loss at Goodison Park in which they hardly tested home goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The Lancashire side are without a win in nine league games and have just five matches remaining to ensure they collect enough points for survival.
Kean, who has not overseen an away win since December, said: "I don't think it was a worrying performance.
"The overall performance was of two totally different halves.
"We were by far the better in the first and they were the better in the second.
"I think whoever was going to get the first goal was always going to be in the box seat.
"That fell to Everton and that was disappointing."
Everton upped the tempo after a drab first half to claim the lead after 54 minutes with a deflected Leon Osman shot.
The goal was Everton's reward for a spell of dominance and the Merseysiders made the game safe when Leighton Baines drilled in a penalty after a foul on Seamus Coleman by Phil Jones.
Kean added: "We felt because Everton were defending quite high there was lots of space behind Leighton Baines and Tony Hibbert.
"We felt we could exploit that - play the ball back into midfield and then quickly get beyond them and play a penetrating pass.
"But then obviously when the goal went in, that changes the outlook of the game."
Rovers' misfortune was summed up when substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen missed the target after a mix-up between Baines and Phil Jagielka.
Kean said: "We felt as though we had to try to go and get a goal and we managed to scramble a chance for Morten Pedersen but he just didn't connect.
"If that goes in at 2-1 you're maybe chasing an equaliser in injury time."
Everton are now unbeaten in seven games and just a point behind their arch rivals Liverpool in sixth place.
David Moyes felt his side owed much to the all-action performance of Osman, whose fourth goal of the season was also his third in six games.
The Scot said: "I thought we played quite well.
"In the first half we were a little bit slow and gave the ball away quite a bit.
"But with the players we have got out that is always going to happen.
"If anyone thought it was going to be smooth and silky, that was never going to be the case.
"We played better in the second half and upped the tempo a little bit.
"In Leon Osman we had someone who was a match-winner by a long way.
"He deserves to be 'bigged up', if you want to say that.
"He has had to take on the mantle since we lost Steven Pienaar and with Mikel Arteta out.
"We have not got a great deal of creativity or that style of player at the moment.
"I thought Osman, when he got it, made things happen and scored a really important goal for us. That got us on our way."
