"I was upbeat last week because I thought they played really well and they'd been on a very good run of playing well," the Villa boss said after the 2-0 defeat at Villa Park.
"We were poor. It was a poor performance all round - and for all the possession we had, I don't think we've really had a shot on goal.
"They've scored two goals but they've had nothing in between that."
And the fear of being involved in a relegation battle have not gone un-noticed by the Villa boss following this defeat either.
"I think there's a group of clubs who to the very death are always going to be involved in the relegation picture," he said.
"I didn't want to get involved in it. But I think there's a group of people that is going to be there."
"I took this job on knowing it was going to be a challenge to try to take this club from being at the bottom.
"I knew all these things were going to come along and I would have to try to put it back right, steady the ship and see over the next few years if I can improve it.
"I'm looking forward to that challenge, and it's no harder than I thought it would be here."