West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner is eager to get points on the board following defeats in the opening two games of the season.
The Hammers face Brighton this Sunday as they look to turn their early-season form around and start picking up results.
West Ham boss Rehanne Skinner reflects on opening two fixtures
After losses against Tottenham and Arsenal, Skinner believes there are plenty of positives to build on. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, she acknowledged that while the team had some good moments, there is room for improvement in the final third.
West Ham suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Tottenham after a Bethany England penalty. Despite taking the lead against Arsenal, they ultimately fell to a 5-1 defeat.
“We’re getting into good areas, maybe just been a bit hurried in the final third. I think we can create better chances with the quality we have, and I’ve had that conversation with the players. I’m pleased with the set-up defensively. There’s still a lot to take out of the games,” Skinner said.
Against Tottenham, the team was cautious out of possession but managed to limit their opponents’ chances. Skinner highlighted that the defensive shape was satisfactory even if the attack needed more sharpness.
The manager was quick to note the progress made against Arsenal, where West Ham’s pressing was much more intense and structured.
“I thought we were a little tentative out of possession against Tottenham. We limited their opportunities, that side of it was okay. Against Arsenal, our pressing was 100 times better. When they scored their goals, you have to accept that and move on pretty quickly. The positives were our structure and intensity,” she said.
Skinner remains upbeat about the lessons learned from both matches and is confident that the team can convert opportunities into points moving forward.
Skinner looks ahead to Brighton clash
With the first two games behind them, Skinner says the focus is firmly on the next match against Brighton. She is keen to continue integrating new players while showcasing the qualities West Ham has demonstrated in previous seasons.
“We want to get points on the board, there’s plenty of opportunities. We’ll focus on the next one in front of us. We’ve learned a lot from the last two games. Every game we want to embed the new players and show the qualities we’ve shown previously,” Skinner added.
West Ham will be hoping that the lessons from their first two games pay off on Sunday. Fans will be eager to see if the team can stay solid at the back while taking more of the chances they create. If Skinner’s focus on pressing and team structure continues, the Hammers could finally start turning their hard work into the results they have been chasing since the start of the season.
