Cardiff City's title push faltered again with a 1-1 draw at Barnsley on Tuesday night, a result head coach Brian Barry-Murphy called "very frustrating."
He insisted, however, that the setback will not distract the Bluebirds from focusing on themselves.
Rubin Colwill fired City into an early lead with his first goal since returning from injury, and Ollie Tanner twice went close to doubling the advantage, only to be denied by Barnsley goalkeeper Owen Goodman.
"We started the game pretty much exactly how we wanted to. We attacked from the first minute, were hugely dominant, very aggressive, in front of our own supporters, scored a great goal," said Barry-Murphy.
"And then really Ollie Tanner's chance was a great chance for us to extend our lead and dominate the game completely, but we didn't."
Barnsley hit back 11 minutes later through Scott Banks, which in Barry-Murphy's opinion gave the home side "momentum" and "complicated" first-half proceedings.
Despite David McGoldrick threatening for the hosts, Cardiff controlled possession with 73% of the ball and Barry-Murphy felt a winner was always possible even if clear chances were limited. Colwill's second half effort was the Bluebird's best opportunity after the break.
"I always believe. I believed we will on Saturday [against Lincoln] but it wasn't to be," said Barry-Murphy.
"I thought later in the game [against Barnsley] we were very dominant. Again, we were very conscious of getting more balls in the box, but in a certain way and making sure that we can create chances.
"It wasn't quite to be. We didn't create enough chances to stand here and say we should have won the game clearly."
Cardiff have now won just once in four games, slipping four points behind League One leaders Lincoln City after sitting top for 105 days prior to Saturday's defeat.
Still, they remain nine points clear of the chasing pack in the promotion race, though Bolton could close that gap to six on Saturday lunchtime before Cardiff's trip to Exeter.
Barry-Murphy insists the challenge is maintaining consistency: "I'm looking at our own team, making sure we're improving all the time. The league campaign is never meant to be straightforward.
"The ambition of the dressing room is clear for me to see. I can feel it every single day. The players tried to do everything asked of them tonight and we could have won the game quite easily but we didn't.
"It's the best time of the season. There's great excitement from the whole club and real ambition in the dressing room.
"We don't need help from anyone else, we have to focus on ourselves, try to improve all the time and have an insatiable appetite to be hungry and try and win for this club."
