Sergej Jakirovic saw his Hull City concede four goals in the FA Cup but he was proud to say they did not surrender against Chelsea.
Pedro Neto helped himself to a first senior hat-trick and there was a hat-trick of assists for former Hull loanee Liam Delap.
But Jakirovic liked the spirit his side showed to not roll over, hitting a post through Lewis Koumas in the second added minute.
"We didn't surrender," said the coach. "This is very important and there is no collapse, I can say it like this.
"Every goal is very important that we have discipline until the end of the game.
"I think this team showed that in every game – that we play until the end.
"I think that we gave everything today. We were, in the first half especially, defensively very good, strong.
PRIDE: Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
PRIDE: Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
"We had some situations from counter-attacks, maybe bad decisions in some moments, we had some chances. We should score one goal, I think.
"Chelsea as well had some chances (too) and I think this is in their quality, he (Neto) scored perfectly.
"Maybe in the second half we tried to be more aggressive, to push more, but then I think that we conceded the second goal from the corner (scored direct by Neto), very cheaply.
"And then the third, fourth goal, we lost maybe balance in some situations and they will use that immediately.
WELL RECEIVED: Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
WELL RECEIVED: Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
"Towards the end, I think that we deserved one goal. We had a few nice chances and I said to Liam (Rosenior, his opposite number) that we deserved the goal and of course he agreed.
"But congratulations to my players. Maybe if we will play in the next games like this with this passion, energy, intensity, that we are compact, that we are tactically good, that we can be win much more points in the Championship.
"When you have those chances in the first half, those moments that you need to take one of them, then it gives you something to hold on to and perhaps changes their approach."
Jakirovic left out Charlie Hughes ad Oli McBurnie after playing recently, in his words, at 70 per cent. On-loan Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer is expected to be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
Chelsea coach Rosenior got a warm reception from the fans he played for and managed before and during the game, was equally kind on his assessment of the Tigers.
Rosenior went over to the home fans at full-time and called it "a really nice way to end."
"It's mad how life works," he said. "It was a sad moment leaving the club but things work out for a reason.
" I really wish them all the best in the future.
"I just think, analysing the games and knowing the characters in the dressing room, and what the club are trying to build, I think that the spirit, the character of the team and their threat in transition, they're going to be a difficult team.
"I really, really hope it (promotion) happens."
The biggest blot on Hull's night was some arrests for discriminatory chanting directed at Chelsea in the first half.
"The stadium is not the place for that and this is the reason why they are arrested," said Jakirovic, echoing Rosenior's view.