Marseille coach Eric Gerets says he is not disappointed with his side, despite their 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Sochaux.

The result keeps l'OM in fourth place, but they are now six points behind third-placed Nancy, who currently occupy the last Champions League place.

Gerets told the club's website that the performance of his players against Sochaux made the result easier to stomach than the shock mid-week cup defeat at the hands of minnows Carquefor.

"What happened during the week in the Coupe de France was much more difficult to accept," he said.

"I think that after they [Sochaux] scored the goal, they did what they had to do. I mean put 10 men behind the ball and defend.

"We kept them pinned in their half just in front of the goal but were unable to score."

The former Galatasaray coach also refused to blame the defeat on poor finishing from his frontmen.

"If we go behind, our opponents will of course defend with ten men behind the ball, leaving us no space," he said.

"If we have seven or eight players in front of goal and they have 10, then obviously there will be no space.

"After that you need a bit of luck to put the ball in the net. We hit the post, Djibril Cissé had a few chances that went over.

"We are lacking a bit of luck at the moment, but I'm happy with the team's performance and their reactions during and after the match as the players told me they were going to fight to the end. That's reassuring."

The result was further soured by an injury to midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, and Gerets admitted that the Mediterranean side will miss the influential 23-year-old midfielder.

"[The injury is] bad enough that he will miss out on the national team and our game next week [away to Lorient on Sunday].

"What Franck Ribéry did for Marseille last year, Mathieu has been doing for the club up till now this year."

Tom Williams / Eurosport