Izzy Christiansen explained that Everton lacked composure in front of goal as they failed to take their chances in a 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Toffees were on top for much of the game with Christiansen seeing a shot blocked before substitute Claire Emslie fired over the crossbar.
In the end, a header from Aileen Whelan was enough to separate the sides as Jean Luc Vasseur’s first WSL match in charge of Everton ended in defeat.
“It was frustrating. We thought we did enough to win the game but the fundamental thing is that we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net,” Christiansen said.
“It is a game we thought we could win, we prepared well for the game and we’re very disappointed.
“We just seemed to lack some sort of composure in the final third. Whether that was the final pass, cross or shot. Whatever it was we just couldn’t get it together.
The teams were treated to wet and windy conditions at Walton Hall Park but Christiansen refused blame the weather for their lack of success in front of goal.
“The conditions always have a bearing on the game but it is the same for both teams,” she said.
“If the weather is that bad, you have to adapt, and whichever team adapts better has a better chance of winning the game. We’re not going to blame the wind, it could have been used as an advantage at times.
“We weren’t football smart and there are a lot of lessons to be learned from today’s performance.”
The defeat means Everton have won only two of their six games at the start of the 2020-21 Barclays FA WSL season and did not draw on the boost of the arrival of Vasseur.
Former Lyon boss Vasseur took over from Willie Kirk, who left in October after Everton endured a difficult start to the season.
But Christiansen again refused to use the change in manager as an excuse for their defeat.
She added: “Many things have changed. He has come from abroad so there is a lot of new information, new style and new philosophies so a lot of things to adapt to but that is not an excuse. It is the same game with the same players.”
