Lallana: We'll learn and improve

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Midfielder proud of Albion's second-half response against City.

Bruce Talbot

2020-10-25T05:00:00Z

Adam Lallana has played in all nine of Albion's Premier League matches so far this campaign.

Adam Lallana says Albion will only get better if they learn from Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.

Three goals in a devastating 18-minute spell in the first half condemned Albion to a 4-1 defeat to the champions, although Lallana said he was proud of the way his side fought back in the second half when Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty was the least they deserved.

Lallana, 33, has started Albion’s last eight games – his longest run of Premier League action for four years – and says there was a lot to admire in Albion’s spirited second-half response.

The Brighton & Hove Albion star reflects on the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.

“It would have been nice if we hadn't been 3-0 down at half-time, not that they didn't deserve it. They were ruthless and took every chance. Rob [Sanchez] made a couple of good saves but when they make the openings they are just so ruthless. That is the difference. When you give silly passes away or don't keep the ball well enough you get punished.

“But in the second half I was very proud of the lads. It would have been nice to get an earlier goal and then the penalty. Then the game is on, but City are one of the best in the world.

“People might think we are crazy going toe-to-toe with them, but I would much rather go down fighting than have a slow death of putting 11 behind the ball. We’re disappointed but we take the positives and learn.”

Lallana knows it will take a while before Albion reach City’s standards but believes Graham Potter’s methodical approach will pay off in the long-term.

“We have a good young squad. For them to be brave and play like this, make mistakes and learn from them is the only way to improve. The way Graham set us up on Saturday showed great courage and the lads tried to enforce it.

“It didn't work at times. We are too good to make the mistakes in the first half but to react how we did and not feel sorry for ourselves was important. If we hadn’t it would have been six or seven. We got at them and eventually got the goal but just too late.”