Matt Beard admits his team’s performance wouldn’t have warranted beating Manchester United in the Continental Tyres Cup quarter-finals.
West Ham United fell to defeat at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on Wednesday, with the Red Devils progressing into the competition’s last four.
Although the Irons hit the woodwork twice, head coach Beard recognises his side simply was not good enough against Casey Stoney’s team.
“Over the course of the game, we didn’t deserve to win,” Beard told West Ham TV. “Manchester United deserved to go through. I felt that they were the better team tonight. They created the better chances and they were quicker to the second balls, and for me that is frustrating.
Manchester United deserved to go through. I felt that they were the better team tonight. They created the better chances and they were quicker to the second balls, and for me that is frustrating.
Matt Beard
“We know we are struggling numbers-wise. We’ve been training with about 12 players for around three months. We had a three-week break and now we’re playing three games in seven days. We’ve lost Simic and Kiernan, and that’s not ideal for these big games.
“None of that is an excuse though, because we didn’t really deserve it. They deserved it and we’ve got to take that on the chin.”
The West Ham boss was frustrated with his side’s showing in the midweek game, in particularly the manner of the second goal, which Beard feels secured the team’s loss.
He continued: “I feel frustrated. I felt we did okay in the first half, but it was a frustrating first goal to concede because we worked on this in training after what happened against Arsenal.
“I think we grew into the game. We did better in the last 20 minutes of the first half, and had a great chance to equalise, although Siobhan Chamberlain has made a great save.
“The second goal changed the course of the game. I looked at the incident and I think it should be a free-kick on Kate Longhurst, but it’s gone against us. After that the game is gone, and for me that’s frustrating.”
With a very quick turnaround now needed, Beard has called on his side to put Wednesday’s result behind them as they prepare to welcome Manchester City to Rush Green Stadium on Sunday.
“We need to recover,” he added. “We need to regroup. We can’t let one night affect us for the rest of the season. We’ve got to continue putting in performances.”