Bochum coach Heiko Herrlich said his team had "played like schoolboys" in their 2-1 defeat at home to Freiburg on Saturday.

Bochum coach Heiko Herrlich said his team had "played like schoolboys" in their 2-1 defeat at home to Freiburg yesterday.

It was Herrlich's second defeat in two games in charge and, rather than confirm the progress he claimed to have seen during the week's training sessions, his side took a considerable step backwards at the Ruhr Stadion.

"We were playing against a side who were there to be beaten, but we fell behind from a free-kick and played like schoolboys," he said.

"We got caught in a trance and then we were really unsettled."

Herrlich did praise his side for reacting well and getting back on level terms while they showed their desire to win the game in a furious final five minutes in which they threw everybody forward in search of a winner.

But they got caught with a sucker punch and here, once again, Herrlich was left questioning the immaturity of his players who remonstrated with referee Felix Brych for what they thought should have been a penalty.

While at least five Bochum players focused on surrounding the referee, Freiburg raced to the other end of the field to score the winner.

"We have got to see that we get our own house in order and not concern ourselves with refereeing decisions," added Herrlich.

"It's annoying to see players remonstrating for a handball rather than getting back to defend.

"I have never seen a referee change his mind just because several players chase him."