REACTIONLFC Women 0-1 Everton Women: Matt Beard’s post-match press conference

• Matt Beard was candid about Liverpool FC Women’s performance in their 1-0 loss to Everton Women in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Megan Finnigan’s headed goal in the 31st minute ended the Reds’ unblemished start to the Barclays Women’s Super League season.

Missy Bo Kearns’ close-range strike was ruled out for offside prior to the opener, while Ceri Holland hit the crossbar for the hosts.

Continue reading for a synopsis of Beard’s post-match news conference…

I’m disappointed because we got off to a strong start and then had a perfectly good goal disallowed, which is annoying since it entirely shifted the game’s dynamic. Disappointed with how we lost control of the game; there were too many giveaways – perhaps 20 minutes in – that allowed them to gain a foothold.

We should have defended the goal better, but then we should have had a free-kick on Grace Fisk in the build-up to that goal. Then we’re chasing the game at the end, losing composure in the last third and maybe grasping at chances rather than remaining calm, poised, and in command of the situation. And then, when we’re pursuing, we’ve left ourselves susceptible at the back in that last 10-minute period because we’re obviou

We were a threat. We had a lot of pace up front with Mel [Lawley] and Mia [Enderby], who is an interesting player. It made us susceptible defensively, but as I mentioned, we’re chasing the game. Going forward, I believe it worked. Defensively, we must ensure that we are not as open as we were at the back end.sly trying to equalize.

I believe she got off to a good start. It doesn’t help anyone when we turn the ball over like we did in that 20-minute period. So we’re making blind passes when we could set it back and allow guys to move across the field. She’ll be alright, though.

I believe we could have done much better in the first half, but we slowed down too much, didn’t release the wing-backs quickly enough, and that allowed them to play through or around us. But they didn’t actually let us in, did they? I believe they have one last chance on the transition after they’ve hit the bar. We were a little more vulnerable when we were chasing. But we could have been more proactive about it.