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Phillips praises 'fantastic' Amex crowd

Head coach reflects on 3-1 defeat to Spurs in Sunday's WSL match at the Amex.

By Bruce Talbot • 15 October 2023

By Paul Hazlewood
Melissa Phillips on the Amex touchline during Sunday's defeat to Spurs.

Head coach Melissa Phillips was disappointed that Albion couldn't give a 'fantastic' Amex crowd a victory after they went down 3-1 to Spurs in Sunday's WSL match.

A record WSL attendance of 6951 saw Elisabeth Terland head Albion in front with her fourth goal of the season but goals from Martha Thomas, Grace Clinton and Rea Percival turned it round for Tottenham.

Phillips said, "I'd like to say a massive thank you to the fans, I thought they were fantastic. It’s disappointing we couldn’t give them a result to cheer but it was a great occasion for the club and women's football to have a record crowd at the Amex."

On the game itself, Phillips admitted that her side struggled to create clear-cut opportunities after Terland's eighth-minute header, despite switching to a back three in the second half.

"Spurs are a good team in possession and they adapted well to our press in the first half," added Phillips. "We changed it at half-time and responded quite well in the second half, but ultimately we didn’t create enough clear-cut chances.

By Kyle Hemsley
Albion's starting line-up against Spurs.

"We need to have more composure on the ball and make better decisions when we have possession."

Phillips praised Terland, who has now scored three WSL goals in as many games. 

"Elisabeth is an incredibly driven individual who is always looking to improve and it was a shame we had to bring her off at half-time, she has a minor niggle which we’re managing. It was fantastic to see her back on the scoresheet again.

"In terms of the team, there is an identity growing on both sides of the ball but we just have to make sure we maintain our drive and determination. We take it one game at a time so we'll review this and prepare for next Sunday [at Chelsea]."