Lee Johnson believes his only regret during his time as Sunderland boss was trying to win against Bolton Wanderers when already 3-0 down to Ian Evatt's side.
Wanderers produced an astonishing performance to put six goals past a dismal Sunderland at the end of January at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Dion Charles put ahead before Dapo Afolayan added a second before half-time.
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Charles bagged his second after the break before Kieran Lee added a fourth as Wanderers blitzed the Black Cats.
Danny Batth put through his own net to add a fifth for the hosts before Declan John rounded off the win with a sublime sixth goal for a rampant Wanderers.
That game proved to be Johnson's last as Black Cats manager as he was sacked soon after the heavy defeat.
And he has now revealed the only regret during his time at the Stadium of Light was still trying to pick up three points when his side were 3-0 down against Wanderers.
Johnson has now also hinted that there were suggestions his time at the club might have been coming to an end towards the conclusion of his tenure.
He told the BBC's 72+ Podcast: “Like I say, the only regret, I’ll be honest with you for my whole time there is the fact I was still trying to win the game at 3-0 down at Bolton away.
“And I think that final result, it doesn’t sit well with me because the lads didn’t deserve it.
"The lads had performed really well, it was our second loss in 15, it was a top points-per-game ratio of all the clubs in the 72 so the journey we were on was a really progressive, good one.
“Lot of new players coming in, a load of young players, we had just made three really good signings in the last week of the window and that bit is disappointing not being able to see the challenge through.
“Did I see it (sacking) coming? Listen, there’s always bits and bobs behind the scenes that are not quite right and a football manager at a club, it is a bit like a marriage, it really is.
“And as much as I loved the club and I loved the people there, we were moving in slightly different directions in terms of our principles, our decision making on how we saw the way forward.”
