Venezia coach Paolo Zanetti was disappointed with his team after they fumbled a lead to lose 3-1 at Sassuolo. ‘We were a different team in the second half.’

David Okereke’s curler into the far top corner had put the Lagunari in front at the Mapei Stadium this evening.

However, Domenico Berardi equalised, then after the break Sassuolo ran riot with a Thomas Henry own goal and Davide Frattesi counter-attack.

Serie A | Sassuolo 3-1 Venezia: Berardi sparks comeback

“We had the right initial approach in a difficult arena against a team that has a lot of quality,” Zanetti told DAZN.

“Unfortunately, until the own goal we were more than in the game and could even have gone into the break 2-1 up, as the goalkeeper performed a miracle. That would’ve made it a completely different match.

“I will be honest, I did not like our attitude after we conceded in the second half. We weren’t as aggressive as usual and also lost Gianluca Busio to injury.

“I don’t want to seek any alibis, because we deserved the defeat, as we were a different team in the second half and it is something we absolutely need to work on.”

Zanetti saw the goal that gave Sassuolo the 2-1 lead, with Henry nodding in Junior Hamed Traore’s corner at the near post straight after the restart, as the turning point in this encounter.

“It felt like the own goal was a psychological blow and we let our heads drop. We did not react in the right way.

“It’s unacceptable, because we conceded that Frattesi goal with players in completely the wrong position and there had been time to make up for it, but we lost our way.”

There is a midweek round coming up, which will see a huge relegation dogfight between Venezia and rock bottom Salernitana.

“Sassuolo are not challenging for the same objectives as Venezia, so we have a very important game coming up against Salernitana and must learn from these errors. Hopefully Mattia Aramu will be available for that game.”

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