Paul Konchesky admitted his West Ham United Women’s side were punished for little mistakes in Wednesday’s 4-0 home loss to Chelsea.
The Blues took the lead in the first half through Niamh Charles on 13 minutes but, aside from the opening finish by the away side, it was an even 45 minutes at the Chigwell Construction Stadium; a half in which the Irons gave a good account of themselves.
However, the reigning Barclays Women’s Super League champions stepped into another gear in the second half, capitalising on small details to score again through Pernille Harder and Sophie Ingle, before Erin Cuthbert’s powerful finish late on.
Manager Konchesky was equally content with the efforts in the first half and frustrated with the manner of the goals conceded in the second, but says he saw fire, passion and intensity in his team heading into the final two matches of the league campaign.
Add in a full league debut for January signing Amber Tysiak, following her return from injury, and there is room for cautious optimism ahead of Sunday’s trip to Leicester City…
I thought we made a good start to the game.
Obviously we went a goal down, and they’re the reigning champions and have some really good players, but it felt like we matched them for 45 minutes. But you have to do it for the full 90 minutes.
We said to the girls at half-time about making sure we stayed in the game and frustrating them into the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, but we didn’t do that. They get a goal on 48 minutes, which gives us a mountain to climb.
Little mistakes get punished, and that’s frustrating,
We got punished but I think we could have dealt with one or two of their goals a little bit better. But they came from our mistakes.
The one that annoys me a bit more is that first goal in the second half – Chelsea’s second – because, if we keep things tight for a bit, you never know what can happen. You might get that chance which gets you a goal, and you’re talking about a different result then.
I think the biggest thing we’re missing is being ruthless in both boxes.
Okay, we were 3-0 down, but Amalie Thestrup had a chance to get the ball in the net but we don’t score. Similarly, we have chances to clear the ball out of our box but we don’t take them, and Chelsea score.
The word ‘ruthlessness’ is what comes into my head and we need to find it in the last two games. We need character in the last couple of games.
I’m really pleased with Amber Tysiak.
She signed with us and then got an injury straight away so her first start for us is a long time coming. I thought she was fantastic in the first half.
She probably could have played a bit longer but I didn’t want to risk her getting a little niggle, just because she hasn’t played for so long, but based on what I saw in this game, she’s going to be a big player for us. Hopefully she can kick on now.
