The Cottagers went 2-0 down within 30 minutes thanks to goals from defenders Nicola Legrottaglie and Jonathan Zebina before Dickson Etuhu pulled one back.

However, Hodgson's men always looked second best and David Trezeguet's sharp third goal emphasised the gulf in class between the two sides.

Hodgson insists his team remain very much in the tie ahead of the second leg in London but acknowledges that the third goal has left them with a mountain to climb.

"I thought they were very effective, not least from scoring two goals from corners," he told ITV4.

"The real disappointment from our point of view is that having got back into the game at 2-1 and seemingly not being particularly troubled we gave away a very foolish goal.

"That meant it's an uphill battle but I thought the players did extremely well in the second half because at 3-1 it's dangerous.

"We needed a second goal but we needed not to concede another so it was a good performance in the second half.

But we're not out of the tie yet and at 2-1 we might have even been congratulating ourselves because we gave a decent performance here today."

Hodgson added: "But certainly we did enough in the game to show we're not out of the tie and we certainly weren't disgraced in any way here today.

"The bitter pill to swallow and the bitter pill we're going to be carrying for the next week is that third goal, which I thought was very unnecessary.

"We had possession of the ball in their half and there was one minute left to play and I think we should have come in at 2-1 and would have been quite happy."