Albion manager Powell said an early decision to award a free kick for backpass — from which the home side opened the scoring — put her side on the back foot, but overall she felt there were positives to take from the game.
She said, “Five-nil was a little bit harsh. We can learn some lessons from it, they keep the ball really well and if you do that it gives you half a chance. But I’m proud of the players today, even if we were beaten by the better side.
“We know they’ve got great quality. What really killed us was the decision in the first three minutes.
“It was a free kick given for a backpass, and I don’t agree with that. It put us on the back foot. From then we were chasing the game and it becomes an uphill battle against one of the best teams in the country.
“From then on, what was really pleasing was that we tried to play, and we created opportunities. We scored a goal, which was arguably a foul and I understand that.
“I was pleased with how we stuck to the game plan: trying to pass through Manchester City, trying to get bodies higher. We just lacked that little bit of quality.”
Albion have a break over the festive period, before Liverpool visit The People’s Pension Stadium on Sunday 5th January, and Powell reflected on the first half of the season.
“So far I’m pleased. We are higher up the table than at this stage last season, so we should be pleased with that.
“Today shows that, although we conceded the five, we are progressing. We are trying to play. I was looking for a performance and at times we did perform, it just wast the result we wanted.”