A dismayed Darren Carter slammed his players for “shooting themselves in the foot” as Birmingham City squandered a two-goal advantage and lost 3-2 at Reading in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
Gemma Lawley and Jade Pennock had given the Blues the lead before Birmingham were left empty-handed and rooted at the foot of the WSL table with three rapid-fire goals from the hosts – either side of half-time.
Carter’s side stunned leaders Arsenal 2-0 earlier this month but two losses in the spin now leave them two points behind Leicester in the drop zone.
And interim boss Carter, 45, fumed: “I’m very frustrated, I can’t lie. I thought we were excellent in the first half until the goal we conceded.
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“Both sides of the half we shot ourselves in the foot, conceded before and after the goal.
“I thought we started the game really well – I wanted us to start with a real intensity and energy and I thought we pulled it off.
“We scored the early goal that gave us a platform but I thought we were excellent on and off ball possession. It was crucial to score the second goal, but the next crucial moment was not conceding a goal until half-time.
“We let each other down at a set piece and with Reading getting one back just before half-time it changes Kelly’s team talk at half-time and mine.”
Lawley’s third-minute strike sent the visitors to a flyer at Berkshire before Pennock’s goal in the 36th minute doubled their lead.
However, that surprise lead seemed to bring the Royals to life when Justine Vanhaevermaet closed the gap just before the break.
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Kelly Chambers’ team sped off the blocks in the second half and Natasha Dowie equalized from the spot after Emma Harries was fouled in the box by Veatriki Sarri.
And it was penalty winner Harries who completed the turnaround just before the hour mark by volleying home a brilliant cross from Deanne Rose.
Former Blues midfielder Carter, whose side host Leicester in a seismic FAWSL crunch duel in a fortnight, added: “It was a very avoidable penalty from our perspective.
“And the third is also a bad concession from our point of view.”
To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live coverage of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
