Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke felt his side did themselves justice in defeat to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.
The Trotters continued their strong start to the season with a 3-2 victory in their EFL Trophy opener.
Oladapo Afolayan hit the winner against the League Two side but the Vale boss was frustrated that his men couldn't cause an upset.
Clarke, speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, said: “There were a lot of positives, but we are frustrated we lost the game.
“It was important to get some injured players back out there. They put in a good shift, we made a lot of changes from Saturday but I thought it was a good game on the eye.
“We are disappointed with the goals we conceded but we have had some really good moments and played some terrific football.
“I don’t want to be too negative because we are disappointed we have lost the game.
"But we have come to a team that got promoted last season, is a massive football club, with a talented squad, and we have done ourselves justice. But still, I want to win football matches so I am disappointed.”
