Steve Holland reckoned it was "a game of corners" as he rued his side's Withdean defeat.
The Crewe manager saw his team construct neatly at times and he came up with a nice ploy in employing Eugen Bopp behind the main striker.
But the basics, namely defending set pieces and finishing, found them out.
Howard was particularly disturbed by the way Albion scored their first two goals.
He said: "We failed to win the first header twice and we failed to get the second ball twice from corners.
"Our defending was poor at times in the second half as well although we were not punished for it."
And then there were the chances from which Byron Moore could have re-ignited the contest.
Holland said: "He could have had a hat-trick.
"There was a one-in-one with the keeper, there was a great move when he didn't even make contact.
"Then when he did make contact he blazed over the bar from five yards out.
"We are in for a long hard slog now and the players know it."
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