Crystal Palace head coach Laura Kaminski remained positive despite a tough night against Chelsea, with her side suffering defeat in their first Women's Super League game at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles were equal to the WSL champions in the first-half, only to fall away in the second — a pattern Kaminski is keen to address.
“These nights are tough,” Kaminski told Palace TV.
“We have had back-to-back games against world-class opposition, and it is about as tough as it gets for a club who have just come up from the second tier.
“But I’m not making any excuses — we must be better after half-time, it’s as simple as that.”
Despite the loss, Kaminski sees these early defeats as part of the learning process for her team, as they adapt to the demands of the top-flight.
“We created some good chances and caused Chelsea trouble," she said.
"Doing that against a world-class side shows our promise. These games do not define our season, but they are the tests we need in order to improve.
“We have information now of where we are at, we have information of how we are conceding and why, so now it is our job to action what we have found, and push forwards.”
Kaminski also praised the 5,047-strong Selhurst crowd for their unwavering support, adding,
“The fans deserve some credit for their reaction to the way that we have begun this journey, and it feels for me that the fans understand this group and their level and what they are trying to achieve.
“Every game is really important for us, but the fans have stuck by the squad and it does feel to me that they understand the mammoth task that is in front of us.”
