Hope Powell says Albion will learn their lessons after they went down 5-0 to leaders Arsenal in Sunday's WSL clash at the People's Pension Stadium.
Two goals from Vivianne Miedema and further efforts by Danielle Van de Donk, Jen Beattie and Lottie Wubben-May ensured Arsenal returned to the top of the table.
Powell said, “We started quite well, but to concede a goal in the 10th minute against a team like Arsenal means you have got a mountain to climb – and credit to them as they were very clinical in front of goal.
“For us it’s been a big lesson learned. We looked a little bit leggy and a bit tired, but Arsenal were very good in possession and when you’re chasing the ball a lot of the time it can wear you out.
“I liked the fact that we kept going though and at times we played some decent football, we just weren’t able to sustain it.”
Albion did have their own opportunities as both Denise O’Sullivan and Inessa Kaagman were denied by Manuela Zinsberger.
“It’s very difficult to create chances against a team like Arsenal and the fact that we did have a few opportunities is good, but you have to be clinical and if you’re not you’ll be on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. We will have to better next week [against Everton].
Asked what she told her players in the post-match huddle, Powell added, “The message is to keep going and trust what we’re trying to do – there’s a long way to go in the season. There is a lot of things we have to be mindful of, the little bits of detail that we have to improve on if we’re to keep up with a team like Arsenal.
“In the short term it’s about recovery and looking ahead and we have to try to put some of the good stuff we did today into practice.”