Blackburn Rovers manager Gemma Donnelly admitted that the better team won after her side slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Durham at Maiden Castle this afternoon.
Ellie Leek’s early goal gave Rovers the perfect start but Durham fought back and turned the scoreline around thanks to a brace from Abby Holmes and a Becky Salicki goal.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time after the match, Donnelly said that she was pleased with her side’s performance in some parts but ultimately, they were second best.
“I thought that the first half whilst we were 1-0 up, they missed a penalty, hit the post, hit the crossbar and I thought that we looked shaky at set pieces,” Donnelly said. “To be honest, I thought that we were fortunate to be at 1-1 at half-time.
“Second half, I thought we were probably a bit more composed, we competed better but Alex (Brooks) has mis-timed a ball into the box, it has dropped between her hands and they have finished off. That has given them a little bit of fire in their bellies and then they have got another one from a set piece which is disappointing because we’ve been doing quite well in not conceding from set pieces. It’s then a mountain to climb coming back from 3-1.
“I thought that the girls didn’t give up, they showed great character, we created a couple of chances ourselves and even after conceding two goals in the second half, I thought we probably played better in the second half.
“It is not the scoreline that we had hoped for and I do think that the better team won today but it is a hard place to come, particularly given that we had a tough away game in midweek, we looked tired today.
“Whilst we wanted to get something today, it was put out of reach when that second goal went in.”
Donnelly went on to discuss the error for the second goal further. While the Rovers boss didn’t want to criticise anyone directly, she highlighted the fact that FA Women’s Championship games are won and lost on fine margins and that there is no room for error, particularly against top opposition.
She said “At this level, you have to be on your game all of the time, that’s what I expect and that’s what the players expect. I know she (Brooks) will kick herself for it but it is fine margins and we keep saying that. Tash (Fenton) is giving the penalty away in our area from a late challenge and it was a penalty, they haven’t scored but it was a let off then Alex might have pulled off a number of good saves in this game and in previous games but all it takes is that one ball that she hasn’t claimed properly and they prod it in. It gives us a mountain to climb.
“I’m not blaming Alex at all, it is just one of those mistakes which happened today and a number of players have made mistakes today. If you are playing a side like Durham, particularly away in the last game on the 19 December before the break, you don’t want to be making mistakes because they will punish you and they did.”
Blackburn Rovers return to action on 9 January 2022 when they face Liverpool at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
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