``We neither had any foreign exposure, nor did we play against a good club team. So, under the circumstances, I think my boys played well, they gave their best,'' Banerjee told newsmen minutes after India bowed out of the race for an Olympics berth finishing goalless with Thailand in the return leg match at the Salt Lake Stadium here.

India had earlier lost the first leg outing 0-2.

Asked why he had not kept the speedy Alvito D'Cunha in the first session, Banerjee said the Goa forward managed to trouble the visitors with his searing runs only because the opponent defenders were tired in the second session. ``Had I introduced him in the first session, he would not have had the desired effect''.

He said the absence of the speedy Hardip Sangha and Venkatesh had robbed the team of the much-needed thrust. While Sangha had tosit out following a knee injury, Venkatesh could not even make it to the preparatory camp after a road accident.

Thailand chief coach Prapol Phongphanick said the Indians had put up a better performance during the day than the first leg match at the Suphan Bari Stadium last Saturday.

Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, Phongphanick said his team had adopted a defensive tactics as they had a 2-0 advantage.