By Dan Harrison
Gary McAllister was left ruing Villa's failure to break down West Brom's 10 men after they were hit by a late "sucker punch" at the Hawthorns.
But the assistant manager insists his team are still determined to finish as the Midlands' top team despite the 2-1 derby defeat.
"The disappointing thing today is we know what three points would have meant," said McAllister.
"Villa is still the biggest club in the Midlands and we want to finish top of that pile. I just feel it was an opportunity to grasp three points away from home against a local rival.
"We got ourselves in front. The first goal was a poor goal to concede and an unneeded challenge, then we didn't defend the set piece.
"Then when West Brom went down to 10 men it was a great chance for us. We stuck in a lot of offensive players with skill, pace and guile but we couldn't break down West Brom and then we got done with a sucker punch, which was a series of mistakes."
McAllister insists Villa must be more cunning when it comes to breaking down the opposition.
He believes teams are now paying extra attention to star trio Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Darren Bent because of their attacking brilliance this season.
"What it says to me is that teams are obviously very aware of the attacking players we have got in our team and we have just got to go up a notch," added the Scotsman.
"Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Darren Bent have been outstanding this year - Darren for both his clubs and Ashley and Stewart have proved they have been in form by the way they have played for club and country.
"So these guys have got to accept that they are getting special attention from the opposition."
With three games remaining, the number two is adamant Villa are still looking up the table - and he has called for a storming finish from the players.
"We are still looking up the table, definitely," McAllister added. "There are nine points to play for. We have got Wigan at home and it is a chance to beat a team that is below us and maybe get in the top-half again."
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