Bristol City Women manager Matt Beard wanted to give a harder bite to the hand that used to feed him as his return to West Ham ended in a 1-1 draw.
Beard parted company on amicable terms with Jack Sullivan and the Hammers hierarchy, moving from one struggling Barclays FA Women’s Super League side to another.
And the two sides couldn’t be separated in snowy Dagenham with Beard feeling his new team deserved to walk away with the spoils.
"I thought we were excellent and deserved all three points,” he said. “I was really pleased with how the girls went about their business and we are desperately disappointed we've not won.
“With a bit of lady luck in front of goal we could have won.
“We hit the post and hit the bar and they've made some brave blocks but I'm really really pleased with another good performance and where we are as a group.”
Beard has immediately improved results and performances, coming in to replace Tanya Oxtoby before Christmas. City’s first and only league win of the season came in Beard’s second game in charge, a convincing 3-0 defeat of Brighton.
Forward Ebony Salmon is a key figure and Beard singled her and keeper Sophie Baggaley, who made three fine saves to preserve a point, out for praise.
"Ebony has been brilliant since I've been here, she's a very good centre forward and her pace causes teams problems so from my perspective it's vitally important we keep her fit,” he said.
"Sophie has been excellent as well, she was brilliant for us. She’s also great with her feet and an excellent shot stopper and she proved that again."
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