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Powell: Spurs defeat was unacceptable

Manager demands a response after Albion concede eight goals against Tottenham Hotspur.

By Bruce Talbot • 30 October 2022

By Kyle Hemsley
Hope Powell apologised to the fans after her team lost 8-0 to Spurs.

Hope Powell said Albion’s performance was ‘unacceptable’ after they were crushed 8-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday.

Three Spurs’ players scored twice as the visitors netted four goals in each half at the Broadfield Stadium to drop to 11th in the table.

Powell said, “It is tough to take, we’re embarrassed and I’d like to apologise to our fans who stuck with us. At times, especially after their first goal, I thought we did okay.

“But it felt like every shot Tottenham had they scored. We got everything we deserved. We weren’t on the front foot enough; we didn’t compete enough. If you give the ball away and concede in the first minute it sets the tone. You get punished for mistakes at this level and that’s what happened today.”

By Kyle Hemsley
Vea Sarri gets in a cross in the second half.

Powell admitted the players and coaching staff needed to ask questions of themselves and re-set ahead of next Sunday’s game at West Ham United.

“We need to spend less time talking and more time delivering and that means all of us. We didn’t carry the momentum on from Chelsea, the performance was night and day compared to last week.

“We need a positive response from the players. We need to have some fire and hunger in our bellies because that was unacceptable. We’ve all got to own it, stop talking and start acting. We can’t afford any more of that, we need to bounce back quickly.”