‘It’s not acceptable to start so slow’ – Skinner reacts to West Ham’s defeat at Manchester City | OneFootball

West Ham United manager Rehanne Skinner expressed her frustration at her side’s slow start in their 5-0 defeat to Manchester City at The Joie Stadium this afternoon.

The Hammers were 2-0 down inside three minutes, leaving themselves with a huge mountain to climb to get back into the game. West Ham United did concede three further goals in the remaining 87 minutes, however, they performed brightly themselves, hitting the woodwork three times and twice being denied by home keeper Khiara Keating.

When speaking to the media after the match, West Ham United boss Skinner expressed her disappointment at her side’s slow and sloppy start to the game.

“Ultimately, we are really disappointed with the start to the game,” Skinner said. “We were so passive it was as if we weren’t out of the changing rooms. You then give yourselves a bit of a mountain to climb.

“Ten minutes before half-time, we started to play the way that we are capable of playing, a little bit more aggressive on the press, a few turnovers, a couple of chances that could’ve sent us in at half-time a little bit differently, a little bit more positive.

“Second half, we started much brighter like we should have in the first half. We’ve hit the woodwork three times and had two clear-cut chances.

“That’s the difference at the moment. We have to keep growing and doing the things that we are doing. It’s great that we are creating those chances and from City’s point of view, I think they had two more where Macca [Mackenzie Arnold] made good saves. On the balance of clear-cut chances, it’s not too dissimilar but they take theirs and we don’t and ultimately, that’s something that we need to get better at.”

When discussing her post-match debrief, Skinner said that everyone has to be accountable for starting games quicker. She also said that her team must aim to play with belief for a full game after impressing against Manchester City from the 35-minute mark onwards.

She said “You’ve got to be really clear that some things can’t happen and some things are really positive. Fundamentally, we’ve got to make sure that we start games faster, it’s not acceptable to start so slow. Ultimately, that’s got to change. I can only do so much with that, we’ve all got to stand up and be counted when we cross the white line and that’s something that they know.

“When there is the response and they understand and believe in themselves more and they know we believe in them, that then changes the landscape a little bit; we get a little bit more positive and a little bit more aggressive in our press then you start to create turnovers. In those moments, that’s when you show what you’re really capable of and if we can do that for 90 minutes, we win games because we can play, it’s just doing it for 90 minutes.”

West Ham United return to action next Sunday when they travel to Aston Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League.