Watford FC Women's Interim Head Coach Matt Bevans spoke after the Golden Girls’ 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic at Vicarage Road confirmed relegation from the Barclays Women's Championship.
Read what Bevans had to say below...
On the game:
This defeat didn’t define our season but it certainly summed it up.
We did really well for long spells but we made errors that were punished, and we don’t punish the errors our opponents make.
Ultimately, games like this are what has cost us this season.
On the first-minute chance for Bianca Baptiste:
It was pleasing and disappointing. Pleasing because we’d worked all week on getting balls played over their high-line, and for one minute I felt like a coaching genius.
But it was disappointing because we didn’t score, and it’s moments like that which change games.
This season we haven’t made the most of our big moments.
On Charlton going ahead after a mistake:
It’s really frustrating, but also comforting in the fact that in no game this year has our keeper had to make six or seven big saves.
We’ve not been under the cosh in games and we’ve played some really good football. I think we have the highest passing stats in the league, and the most possession.
But, ultimately, we’ve not had enough going forward to capitalise on those qualities.
On matching sides but not getting enough wins against full-time opposition:
It’s no secret we’re the only part-time team in the Championship, yet I still feel that we’re better than the table says because in so many games we’ve been so good in so many areas – we just lack that bit of quality.
And that’s why our players are at Watford and we’re part-time and not full-time. We’re here for a reason and we have to recognise and understand that. All we can do is look to improve and get better.
On the last two games of the season:
We can only go and give everything we’ve got into the last two games and put some pride back into ourselves and reward the hard work we’ve put in this season.
I know I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to train and prepare the team properly.
We’re more than capable of winning our last two games, and I don’t think anyone who has seen us play would be shocked if we did.
