“Parts of the performance were OK but more often than not there was disappointments in there, we look back on the game and I think we had 70 percent possession but we didn’t do enough with it,” O’Neill told stokecityfc.com

“We lacked purpose in the final third of the pitch and we lacked cutting edge. I think what has epitomised this season is that we went behind to a goal that was avoidable.

“We didn’t set ourselves up properly from the throw in and as a result we lost a goal,” said O’Neill. “Then you have to come from behind and Cardiff were able to sit in at times and hit us on the counter attack. In many ways we created our own problems.

“We didn’t put enough balls in the box, simple as that. We didn’t put enough quality in the box and I think we missed James (McClean) tonight there’s no doubt about that.

“The quality of his ball on Saturday was a big factor in our performance so it was a blow not having him.

“We have a lack of wide players in the squad which is pretty evident. We’ve worked hard with the players in a short space of time having three games and just four training sessions.”

He added: “We’ve been pretty clear with the message in that in the final third of the pitch we want an end product and tonight we didn’t do that.”

O'Neill bemoans City showing