Powell: We can take heart from performance

Hope Powell was pleased with her side’s performance despite losing 2-1 at WSL leaders Arsenal.

The Seagulls took a deserved first-half lead through an Emma Koivisto header but were undone after the break by quick-fire goals from Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead.

Despite the double setback, Albion remained in the game until the final whistle and can take plenty of heart from the performance – which followed Sunday’s excellent 0-0 draw against Chelsea.

“I’m really, really pleased with the way we performed: the effort, the guts, the ambition, but we were up against a very, very good side,” said Powell. “Arsenal have got quality in their side, their speed of play, going from first gear to fourth gear very quickly, but I thought we did well to match them and contain them. We always knew it was going to be a difficult task and unfortunately we couldn’t do enough to keep them out.”

Arsenal’s winner came through a Mead free kick after the referee deemed she had been fouled by Victoria Williams. The Albion players disputed the decision and Powell could understand the frustration.

“It felt like we weren’t getting the rub of the green,” she added. “I will watch it again and will have a better account of things. We were unfortunate tonight; some of the decisions that we thought should have been ours went against us and one of them ended in a goal for them. 

“But we can take heart from tonight. We played better than when we last played them in the FA Cup, we had more chances, so I’m pleased actually.

“In the last two games we have played very, very well against two top sides. If you’re looking at results, perhaps we haven’t done so well, but if we’re looking at performances, I can only be proud and pleased with the progression we are making. Fundamentally I’m pleased with the performance tonight but disappointed with the result.”