NEW DELHI: Shillong Lajong coach Desmond Bulpin was positive after his side's 4-1 loss to reigning champions Dempo, as the north-eastern side was close to snatching a point from the match before conceding two late goals. The scoreline didn't reflect on the exact nature of the game. "I thought we were the better team," he said.

+%23+2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; float: right; margin-left: 1em;">"For the last 25 minutes we were a much better side than them. We were, stronger, quicker and better than them," remarked Bulpin.

"At 2-1, I gambled sending the centre-back up [off the pitch]. Of course, in this case, you are liable to concede goals."

"If you study the facts, we had more crosses in and more shots on goal, but the penalty changed the game," added the Lajong gaffer.

Almost against the run of play, Lajong conceded a penalty late which sealed the points for Dempo. Bulpin felt that the penalty call could have gone either way.

"The penalty was harsh, but maybe it was a penalty. I've not seen it on television," he admitted. "I'm not moaning about it as such things happen in football. But it changed the game."

On being asked whether playing away had an effect on the result, he replied in the negative. "We lost the other day to Sporting Clube de Goa, which played better than us at our stadium," said the Scotsman.

"This is just our first away game. We were the better side on performance against a team that operates on a much larger budget and contains some big Indian internationals as well."

"Even though we lost, I thought we were magnificent against them," he concluded.