Hammarby coach Kim Hellberg glanced past the interview microphone at Max after 45 minutes, which he described as "the best half we've done" in terms of gameplay.
Then Hellberg continued:
It's worth nothing when we're down 1-3. We're basically letting in everything that approaches the goal, and the third goal is a disaster in terms of defensive work.
We need to defend ourselves a hell of a lot better.
An effective Mjällby had already started the little goal fest in the first half, with Herman Johansson pushing up 1-0 into the net in the seventh minute.
Hammarby replied when Montader Madjed bombed in 1-1 via the crossbar in the 17th minute. But before the half was over, Nicklas Røjkjær had placed in 2-1 and Ludwig Malachovski Thorell had extended to 3-1 on added time, after Hammarby's defense had been rolled up.
Kim Hellberg got to see better defensive work after the break, but it was too late by then. The second half was goalless.
Mjällby remains unbeaten and takes eight points after four matches.
I'm so sickly impressed by the guys. We go out to a brutally tough task, but we deliver in basically all phases, says Mjällby coach Anders Torstensson to Max.
Hammarby, which had started the Allsvenskan with three straight wins and an 8-0 goal difference, still tops the table, which is pending before the six matches that will be decided later during the Easter weekend.
Notably, the match at Strandvallen was Hammarby's first on natural grass in this year's Allsvenskan, with the three wins having been taken on artificial turf.
