Martin Luther King once said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope”. Never was there a more appropriate motto for Brighton and Hove Albion Women at the moment. After a promising performance away at Everton last week, the team were trying to ride that momentum into their first home game of the season.

It was an inauspicious start though as early defensive miscommunication nearly let the visitors in within the first minute of the game. Fortunately the chance was squandered but the pattern of play, profligate passing and lack of cohesion, continued right up until West Ham took the lead in the 12th minute. Riko Ueki wasn’t closed down anywhere near fast enough and she rifled a shot which had Sophie Baggaley scrambling across to her right. Although she did well to keep it out, West Ham were far more alive to the loose ball, and Kirsty Smith managed to squeeze it over the line before it was cleared.

From then until half-time Brighton grew into the game and were in the ascendancy as the break approached. Elisabeth Terland had a shot well saved by Mackenzie Arnold and Pauline Bremer also had a chance to put the home side ahead, essentially the Albion did everything but score. Certainly reasons for optimism, but you just felt that a goal was just as likely to come for the Hammers as it was for the Seagulls, unfortunately that’s just how our defence is at the moment.

And so it came to pass. A foul led to a free kick mid-way inside our half. Brighton didn’t deal with a fairly standard ball in from Lisa Evans which fell kindly for Ueki to nod home West Ham’s second of the game. Two games, two goals from set-pieces when we probably have one of the tallest defences in the league. Last week a player was allowed to control and finish the ball direct from a corner and this week a player all of 5’4″ is scoring a header after being left completely unmarked. You have to think that’s an issue Mel Phillips will be massively disappointed about.

Again though Brighton fought and grew into the half, looking much the better team, though West Ham seemed content to sit in anyway at that point. Madison Haley came on for her WSL debut and looked mightily impressive leading the line, while Charlie Rule, Tatiana Pinto, Maisie Symonds and Veatriki Sarri all made an impact to varying degrees when they were brought on. Still no goal though, so for all the huff and puff, no points and a disappointing home defeat to one of the more beatable teams on the schedule.

Notes

• The starting eleven seemed to be technically very proficient, but lacking a bit of edge, creativity and pace. The eleven that finished the game was perhaps the opposite, they had the rest, but needed a cool, calm head to put a chance away. Personally I’d like to see more of a blend between youth and experience from the start.
• I genuinely think on balance of play Brighton deserved a draw, but that’s not how football works.
• The passing was really poor at times. Those that needed touch had power, and those that needed power would get cut out or intercepted, putting the defence under unnecessary pressure.
• If Brighton are going to develop from the back then the defence as a unit must become more comfortable on the ball. At the moment they look nervous, which presumably makes their teammates nervous – and I know it makes us as fans pretty nervous. Perhaps a more conventional formation could steady the ship, albeit at the cost of some dynamism going forward, or alternatively introducing a player of a different skillset to the lineup.
• I sung her praises above, but Haley looks a player. Her Dad has 5 (yes five) Super Bowl rings, so winning is in her DNA. I might get accused of jumping the gun, but I’d like to see her starting games sooner rather than later. She has speed, she’s physical, she’s smart on the ball – I’m a fan.
• Speaking highly of new signings, Tatiana Pinto looks quality both in and out of possession and lord knows we need more players who can play a pinpoint pass and score the odd goal. She’s another player I think needs to start games very soon.
• Once again Katie Robinson looked lively, but once again she wasn’t getting enough of the ball in the right areas. We have a strength there, lets exploit it!
• Sophie Baggaley made a couple of outstanding saves again and I really think she’s a great goalkeeper. My only concern is that when you watch Arnold, or say Janina Leitzig at Leicester, is that they have a very physical presence from corners, set pieces etc, which can often get their defenders out of trouble. Baggaley doesn’t possess that stature which means our taller, stronger players need to help her out – which hasn’t gone well so far. No qualms with Baggaley whatsoever though, and to come in to a team and settle so quickly I think is a testament to her attitude and ability.
• On the West Ham side, they played decently enough and took their chances. Sadly they only had to be ‘good’ to beat us on this occasion. Ueki looked a real talent, some ‘big’ clubs might have missed a trick there. A fair amount of dark arts were utilised towards the end to break up any rhythm Brighton tried to gain, but that’s just how football is these days.
• All at SheGulls would like to wish Kirsty Smith a speedy recovery from the injury she sustained in the second-half which looked relatively serious. Here’s hoping she’s fit and well so we can pay her back for her goal when we play the Hammers later in the year!