Birmingham City boss Scott Booth was pleased to see his side collect their first point of the season as they drew 1-1 at West Ham United on Sunday.
Booth has taken on a difficult job at Birmingham City with virtually a new team having to be assembled over the summer but they have progressed and were worthy of their point in their 1-1 draw in East London.
The former Glasgow City boss has quietly gone about his business at St Andrew’s and he finally saw his side get off the mark at the fifth time of asking.
“I thought it was a really good performance, I thought it was very structured,” Booth said when speaking after the full-time whistle at The Chigwell Construction Stadium.
“It’s what we’ve been working on, having a little bit more of an attacking transition threat, and I thought today we had that. When the players had to put their bodies on the line, they did it and worked so hard for each other.”
It was never going to be an easy feat taking points from a West Ham United side who had already recorded an impressive victory over last season’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League runners-up Manchester City but Birmingham City held their nerve and defended resolutely throughout.
“They’ve shown already this season how capable they are of hurting the best teams in the league so we had to be really organised and I felt that we were,” stated Booth. “It’s a really good point away from home against team that’s been flying.”
West Ham United didn’t register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes of the match which emphasises just how organised Booth’s side were and how difficult they made things for the home team. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop The Hammers taking the lead early in the second period through a wonder-goal from former Birmingham City forward Claudia Walker.
Despite coming under some heavy pressure following the goal, Birmingham City managed to find a breakthrough of their own through Louise Quinn. A dangerous ball into the West Ham United six-yard box caused havoc for the defence and the ball fell nicely to the Birmingham City centre-back who made no mistake from close range.
Speaking about the goal, head coach Booth said “We need Lou involved when it’s situations like that. When it’s a dead ball situation, she is dangerous but this was a bit different this one.
“It was a little bit surprising that it was Lou but she actually deserves a goal because she’s been so good so far this season.”
That goal from Quinn put an end to Birmingham City’s losing start and lifts the Blues out of the relegation zone above newly-promoted Leicester City. It is still very early days in the season but getting their first point on the board could be the boost that Booth and his players need to really kick on for the remainder of the campaign.
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