Danny Ings was left to reflect on a game of two halves as Aston Villa fell to a 3-2 defeat against Watford at Vicarage Road.
Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr handed the hosts a 2-0 advantage at the interval, which was added to by Hornets substitute Cucho Hernandez in the 67th minute.
John McGinn swept home a superb first-time finish to reduce the arrears in the 70th minute before debutant Ings then converted an injury-time penalty, but it proved mere consolation as Villa tasted opening-day defeat in Hertfordshire.
Speaking to VillaTV post-match, Ings pointed to contrasting first and second-half displays.
“It was a game of two halves for us, I think," he said.
“First half, I think, we were all a little bit lethargic with the ball, we didn’t really move it well and we got punished for that.
“It wasn’t good enough from all of us, really, in the first half.
“Second half we showed a reaction, lads looked sharp as well who came on. We created a lot more and moved the ball quicker.
“It was one of those days where if you don’t start the game well then you get punished and we got punished.”
And the striker said Villa will be working hard at Bodymoor Heath to put it right ahead of next Saturday's home encounter against Newcastle United.
"For us now, we need to go back to the training pitch and have a really good week going into the next game," he added.
"I think we'll get better and better each week, the more all of us new players play with the team each week and go through the tactical side as well, I think we'll get stronger and stronger.
"We do need to improve on what we did here and I'm sure we will."
You can watch Danny’s full interview below…
