Accrington Stanley boss Paul Cook conceded Torquay were "far superior" than his side after a 3-1 away defeat in League Two.
Rene Howe's fourth-minute penalty got United off to a flying start and although Stanley substitute Padraig Amond levelled on 65 minutes, two minutes later the Gulls were back in front when Billy Bodin headed home before skipper Lee Mansell capped United's win, heading home Kevin Nicholson's 80th minute corner at the far post.
Cook said: "We weren't very good from start to finish. We never got going. Obviously to concede a penalty after four minutes, whether that was harsh or not, wasn't ideal.
"It was a difficult pitch to pass and play on but Torquay were far superior all day. You have to give credit to the opposition, sometimes it is easy to say we haven't played well but possibly we haven't been allowed to play well. Torquay created a lot of chances and could have won the game by more goals.
"Possession doesn't win games, goals win games. Possession can look good on the eye and if you are going to have good possession you shouldn't concede goals. We conceded three, we conceded three last week and four at Chesterfield so unfortunately there is a pattern there.
"Football is a funny game, you get carried away with starts and finishes. It is a long season, you have got to keep your feet on the pedal and keep going. We have had two defeats on the run now which is the first time that has happened to us this season. We go to Oxford next week and we have to be right at it."
