West Ham manager Olli Harder revealed he was not surprised by debutant Tameka Yallop’s star performance in his side’s 4-0 win over Leicester City.
Yallop opened the scoring 25 minutes into her first Claret & Blue appearance and looked to have added another nine minutes from time, but it was ultimately recorded as an own goal for Leicester keeper Kirstie Levell.
Ashleigh Plumptre was also credited with an own goal at the end of the half-time after Claudia Walker had put the Hammers two up.
Harder, who inked Yallop in May, said: “[Yallop's] performance was really important. It’s something that we’ve missed over the last few weeks, but at the same time, I’m not surprised by it.
“She was the first signing and someone I really wanted to bring to the football club.
“A midfielder with a nose for goal is always helpful, so I’m very pleased with her performance today and hopefully, that continues.”
West Ham had started brightly and had plenty of chances without taking them before Yallop connected with a through-ball from Kate Longhurst to put her side ahead.
Claudia Walker then doubled their advantage as West Ham netted multiple goals in a league game for the first time since April.
The own goals from Plumptre and Levell put the game out of sight for strugglers City with their only clear-cut chance coming through new signing Jess Sigsworth in the first half.
Despite the four-goal win, Harder believed his team could have gotten more.
He said: “I wouldn’t say we well and truly rectified our finishing, but I thought we’ve done well and - this is with all due respect to our opposition - I still felt like we could have made more of certain moments.
“But to take four goals and a clean sheet with the sun shining and take three points, it’s difficult to complain.
"Of course, I’m extremely happy with that, but in the context of the game I think we could have done a bit better with some of our chances.”
It was the first win of the Barclays FA WSL season for West Ham after conceding a late equaliser to Villa in their last match.
For newcomers Leicester City, life in the top division has been tough, the Foxes scoring only two goals while picking up no points in their first three matches to sit 10th.
To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
