Bristol City Women’s manager Lauren Smith highlighted that “We lost the ability” after her sides 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Both goals were scored by former Bristol City player Ebony Salmon, the first taking a severe deflection before hitting the back of the net, before sealing the match for the Claret and Blue side 10 minutes later.
Up until half-time, the game had been in balance, something reflected in Smith’s post-match review, “When we went in at half-time I think that the game was very 50/50 in terms of chances on for both teams, possession was probably swinging their way, but ultimately they weren’t getting anywhere with it.”
Although the boss was critical that her side had lost a key part of their attack “The change in pace that we normally have that goes and threatens teams”
Although the former Wales assistant coach, is positive, and insists on learning from defeat, as she insists the team will “learn what we have from this game, what we have up to this point. We’ll learn, we’ll go again” as well as admitting earlier “We were static in our shape, that’s a learning curve for us. Even if the teams against us play slower passes, we need to make sure we’re explosive.”
The Robins had the potential to take the lead against Villa, throughout a few chances in the first half, the best being, a fabulous strike from Rachel Furness, as she fires a half volley powerfully on target, only to be denied by Daphne van Domselaar
The Englishwoman realized that her side failed to be clinical in the attacking third, “I think we could have been a little bit more composed in the first half, around the final third. And then in the second half, we could have gone a bit more direct, gone 1v1 and picked them out a little bit more”
Bristol City are now bottom of the Women’s Super League table on goal difference, Smith will be looking to move out of the relegation spot next weekend, as her side take on Everton.
