Dan McNamara praised the ‘fantastic’ performance of his team after a narrow 3-2 defeat to league leaders Newcastle United at the New Bucks Head.
The Old Gold went in at half-time 2-0 up after two great finishes from Amber Hughes and looked on course to be only the second team this season to win against the Magpies.
However, Newcastle fought back in the second half and came from behind to win the fixture thanks to goals from Kacie Elson, Jasmine McQuade and Katie Barker, who scored the winner in the 89th minute.
McNamara spoke on his team's performance, the second half turnaround from Newcastle, the performance by Jade Cross and looking ahead to playing West Brom at Molineux on Friday evening.
On the performance
"It's hard to take that, but that is the difference. I thought first half we were fantastic, the way we executed the game plan to perfection. They didn't really trouble us, to be honest.
"I thought we were absolutely fantastic, and in the second half, we were fantastic.
"We can't compete with the levels of physicality and what they are producing for the full 90 minutes.
"Naturally, we get weaker, and they get stronger as the game goes on, and as I said, it's really tough to take.
"The away game was not a 3-0 game even though they deserved to win it, and I certainly don't believe we deserve nothing from the performance today.
"It's so hard to take, but we have got to accept it. That's where we are at. We have to try and go again on Friday."
On the second half
"If we perform at those levels against teams in and around us then I think we will win more than we lose out of the next nine.
"There is a lot to learn, but credit to Newcastle. They were fantastic, and the players that they have got are incredible.
"Physically and technically wise, they are most probably the best team at tier three that we will ever see.
"So good luck to them in the Championship next year, and hopefully one day, we can follow in their footsteps."
On attempting to make it 10 in a row against West Brom on Friday
"We are not looking at stats, and stuff like that is not important. I think Albion are three points ahead of us for the first time in a very long time.
"That is the only stat I care about. It is putting that right because you know they are effectively playing to go six points ahead of us.
"People are telling me that you have five games in hand, that doesn't interest me. Points on the board are better than points to come.
"Just a side note, what a performance from Jade Cross, absolutely tremendous.
"Her first league start marked to come in and perform like that shows what this football club means to her. She is remarkable, so massive credit to her.
"Let’s look ahead to Friday and see what happens."
By Jordan Preece
