Vyan Sampson admitted defeat to Arsenal Women was hard to take for West Ham United, with the Irons in a winning position in Sunday's match.
Matt Beard's side fell to a 4-2 defeat against Arsenal in the first match of 2019, with Jane Ross scoring a brace for the Irons, while Leah Williamson, Janni Arnth and Danielle van de Donk’s brace secured the win for the Gunners.
Ross scored the opener on 11 minutes, as she turned the ball in at the back post. Then in the space of five minutes, Arsenal turned the game on its head and took the lead through Williamson and Arnth. Just before half-time, Ross was through one on one and calmly slotted the ball home to bring the game level at the break.
In the second half, it was the Gunners who secured the points. Van De Donk scored a six-minute brace to ensure the points went back to North London.
I thought in spells we did really well, but in this league it’s the small millimetres that make the difference.
Vyan Sampson
After the game Sampson: “It was a tough one to take because I thought in spells we did really well, but in this league it’s the small millimetres that make the difference.
"We could have won, 100 per cent. It’s the small things that let us down today, like second balls and not defending crosses. We just have to take it on the chin and go on to the next one.”
Instead of playing in her usual defensive position, Sampson played in a more advanced midfield role, something the No14 was happy to do for her side, with the team struggling with a number of injuries.
She continued: “I play in the holding role sometimes, so it’s not completely new to me. It’s the first time I’ve started the game in that position.
"I’ll do whatever it takes for the team, I’ll play wherever as long as it means I’m on the pitch and giving my bit."
Next up for the Irons is a trip to Manchester United in the Continental Tyres Cup and then a return to league action at Rush Green Stadium, when the Hammers host Manchester City.
Sampson added: “We’re not going to let this defeat knock us too much. We’ve got a big week ahead, two more very important fixtures ahead and we’re just going to get our heads down on the training pitch and work hard towards those and put this game behind us.
“We’ll just take care of ourselves over the next couple of days, get some recovery in tomorrow and then hit the pitch on Tuesday and then we’ll go again.”