In the big picture, Sunderland's Carabao Cup exit barely registers. This season is all about the Black Cats' return to the Championship, re-establishing themselves at that level after four years away, and trying to work out what exactly constitutes a good finish in their first season back in the second tier.
But there was still an air of disappointment surrounding the cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. Perhaps it was falling at the first hurdle after the excitement of reaching the quarter-finals last season while competing in League One.
Maybe it was the loss of their 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions stretching back to mid-February. Or the fact that Sunderland were beaten by a League One side that they had defeated over two legs just three months ago to reach the play-off final at Wembley en route to promotion.
READ MORE: Darren Moore reacts to Sheffield Wednesday's Carabao Cup win against Sunderland
Possibly it was the manner of the goals they conceded, giving away possession and allowing Dennis Adeniran to turn before unleashing a stunning 25-yard strike for the opener, and then being pressured into a defensive mistake which ended with Adeniran crossing for the unmarked Sylla Sow to finish the second.
There were mitigating factors. Alex Neil had taken the opportunity to make changes - a full slate of 11, with none of those who started the weekend league win at Bristol City getting any gametime - as he understandably decided to give those who have not figured, or hardly figured, in the opening two games a chance, along with some fringe players.
That meant there was some rustiness on show from the likes of Carl Winchester, Bailey Wright and debutant goalkeeper Alex Bass, along with the lack of cohesion that comes when players are brought together for the first time. But Neil's opposite number Darren Moore also made changes, eight in his case to the side that won at MK Dons on Saturday, so he could point to some of the same issues.
Yet Wednesday were the better side for the majority of the game. Certainly they created more in front of goal than Sunderland. And therein lies the rub.
Behind Sunderland's first XI, which has performed creditably and collected four points from its first two games, there is little to choose between the squad players and those of Wednesday in the division below. Neil was forced to fit square pegs into round holes, with young winger Jack Diamond playing as a centre-forward, full-back Trai Hume operating at right wingback, and academy midfielder Harrison Sohna as left wingback.
It was a reminder of the urgent need for reinforcements to be brought in before the transfer deadline at the end of the month. I say a reminder because the need for more new signings has become a constant theme of Neil's press conferences over the last month.
As he admitted last night, "That's not something I'm saying as a reaction to this evening. Every press conference I've done for the last month I've spoken about the exact same thing.
"I've not changed my stance on that. We need to strengthen the squad."
Sunderland's shortcomings at Hillsborough underlined his point. An understrength squad crashing out of the cup is one thing, but a lack of quality cover in the Championship could prove very costly.
READ NEXT:
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- Sunderland were 'architects of their own downfall' at Sheffield Wednesday admits Alex Neil
- Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Sunderland player ratings as Alex Bass endures a difficult debut
- Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Sunderland report as Black Cats fall at first hurdle in Carabao Cup
- Sunderland were close to signing Nathan Broadhead - until the weekend changed everything
