Stoke City boss Tony Pulis felt that injuries and illness proved crucial in his side's 3-1 Carling Cup defeat at West Ham United.
After taking an early lead through Kenwyne Jones, the Potters were unable to build on their advantage and were eventually undone after extra-time at Upton Park.
Pulis told his club's official website:"We had to bring Kenwyne and Jermaine Pennant off because they were feeling under the weather, whereas their substitutions were the turning point.
"Mark Noble and Victor Obinna made a big difference, whereas we didn't have that sort impact player to turn to and that was crucial in the end.
"It was desperately disappointing because we started the game so brightly and we had a number of situations after the goal where the final pass could have led to a second.
"We just needed that second goal when we were looking comfortable – that would have finished them off.
"It was inevitable that they would come into the game and it was unfortunate that we started to drop deep and began to look tired.
"Fair play to West Ham, when Obinna and Noble came on, they changed the game and they made us pay for the fact that we didn't get that second goal when we were on top."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email