Ian Evatt was left to rue a slow start and a gift-wrapped goal as Wanderers tasted defeat for just the second time in 11 games.
A 2-0 defeat at MK Dons saw the hosts enhance their promotion chances and leave the Whites with more work to do to try and reach the play-offs.
And Evatt was left feeling frustrated after his side saw their hopes of a comeback dashed 16 minutes from the end at Stadium MK as they finally ran out of steam in their eighth game of the month.
“I’m more disappointed with the manner of it,” said the Wanderers’ boss.
“I think the first 20 minutes and a moment of madness in the second half has cost us the game.
“Other than the first 20-25 minutes, when we were too passive, I think we then controlled it.
“In the second half I think we were starting to dominate and it was a matter of time and then we pressed self-destruct and it was game over.
“We felt we were in the ascendency. We were bringing players on to get the goal we needed.
“It felt like it was coming. Our fans were getting excited and then we press self-destruct.
“I still feel it was there for us today. I don’t think we were inferior to them. Other than the first 25 minutes and a moment of madness in the second half, we’ve cost ourselves the game.”
Wanderers were inches away from drawing level at half time as Amadou Bakayoko’s header was superbly touched onto the bar by Dons’ keeper Jamie Cumming.
But handing a second goal to Scott Twine confirmed just a second defeat since mid-January and leaving Wanderers needing to bounce back at Gillingham next Saturday to try and close the seven-point gap to the top six.
“We’re disappointed. We’ve got used to winning games and we don’t like losing,” Evatt added.
“We’re frustrated and disappointed with the manner of it but we have to go again.
“Our margin for error has lessened again today. We know what we have to do and that hasn’t changed.
“It’s just made it more difficult.”