‘We are frustrated’ – Carter reacts to Birmingham City’s FA Cup defeat to Leicester City | OneFootball

Birmingham City head coach Darren Carter said that his side’s 6-2 Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth round defeat at Leicester City was frustrating.

The Blues went into the tie as underdogs but they took a second-minute lead against top tier Leicester City and also came back from 2-1 down later in the first half to level the tie. The hosts soon went 3-2 up and from that point forward, Leicester City never really looked in any danger of letting Birmingham City back into the game.

When speaking to the media after the match, Birmingham City boss Carter admitted his frustration at a potential missed opportunity to push Leicester City all of the way.

“We are frustrated because we let the game slip away from us and I didn’t feel that we were at our best,” Carter said.

“First half in particular, we didn’t get our press right and how we wanted to play out of possession. We tweaked it at half-time and then for the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we got it right. We played predominantly in their half, had some corners and had some chances.

“The fourth goal against the run of play has spun the game back in their favour and then it gets a bit transitional, we’ve got done by another set-piece and a straight ball over the top.

“We are just frustrated with the manner of the goals in a game where we felt there was something there for us had we been better in moments.”

Birmingham City are targeting a return to the Barclays Women’s Super League at the earliest opportunity. Carter went on to say that the difference between the Barclays Women’s Championship and the top tier is ruthlessness.

He said ‘Today, you’ve seen the ruthlessness of a WSL team and the quality. There are moments in the Championship that you might get away with but at WSL level, they punish you. That’s what Leicester have done today, they’ve been clinical.

“A lot of my players have played WSL for many years but for the younger ones, this is a good learning tool for them.

“They’ve shown their ruthless side today and they’ve been clinical in the moments that we’ve not been so good.”

Birmingham City are back in action next weekend when they play host to Barclays Women’s Championship title rivals Southampton at St Andrew’s.