Matt Gilks admitted the Bolton Wanderers players were 'bitterly disappointed' to lose against Newport County which saw their unbeaten run come to an end but insisted there are still plenty of points to play for.
The Trotters had won or drawn their last 14 games in League Two heading into the clash at Rodney Parade.
And they looked like they would add another match to that tally but were made to pay for not taking several chances against the Exiles.
Eoin Doyle struck the bar and midfielder Kieran Lee missed two brilliant chances in the first half, before Nicky Maynard scored what proved to be the decisive goal after the break.
But there was late drama in South Wales and Alex Baptiste's injury time header was cleared off the line and a subsequent goalmouth scramble could not force an equaliser.
After the result and the rest of the day's results saw Bolton slip out of the top three but only on goal difference after Tranmere Rovers drew against Cambridge United, Gilks pointed to how tight the table is at the top.
With seven games and 21 points still to play for, Gilks believes there is plenty still up for grabs and called on Wanderers to keep their destiny in their own hands with wins.
He said: “We are bitterly disappointed as you can imagine. We had chances in the first half and could have been two or three up at half time. They are just not going in for us at the minute.
“You have got a striker in Nicky Maynard who has a wealth of experience who followed in what we think wasn’t a free kick in the first place. But he was in the right place at the right time.
“We have gone 14 unbeaten which is credit to ourselves, so these things happen. You are not going to win every one.
“We know it was an important one we lost there but thankfully some other results have gone for us and there are seven games left, 21 points up for grabs so we are going to make sure they come back to Bolton.
“It’s very tight up there. We check the table probably more than we should but we know it is in our hands in how we train, how we do our work on the opposition. We have to make sure we do everything possible to get those victories.
“We worked it well and played better first half than we did second half, creating more chances. Doyler had one hit the bar.
“We will look at the video to see where we could have done better and hopefully implement that in the games to come.
“The manager’s message after that game was that football sometimes doesn’t give you what you deserve.
“We love it for all the good reasons and the bad reasons."
Some of Bolton's best chances in the game fell to Lee, with two great first half opportunities that went begging.
But Gilks believes things just did not go Bolton's way against the Exiles and hopes Wanderers can return to winning ways this weekend against Harrogate Town.
He said: “He wants to score and he’s 32 but runs around like he is 15. He’s a great fella in the changing room and we have a lot of respect for him.
“I just felt things didn’t go our way, nothing more than that.
“Obviously confidence is high with the results we have had but Colchester was another one we should have won, it’s just about finding the back of the net.
“I think one game will come along and we will be three or four up by half time.
“We will keep going, the gaffer will keep on at us. Harrogate is a tough game but one we’re looking to win."
