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London City Lionesses suffered Continental Tyres League Cup disappointment on Wednesday [11 October], falling in a penalty shootout versus Watford.
However, the Pride produced a much-improved performance under the lights at Princes Park and were just minutes away from winning the game in regulation time before Coral Haines equalised in the dying moments to send the tie to a shootout.
Speaking to reporters after the match, head coach Carolina Morace took the positives from a strong team performance on home soil.
What did you do differently today, compared to your other recent matches?
We played very well today, like we have played in some of our other games. Unfortunately, we only had four players on the bench today and we couldn't give our players the rest that we wanted to.
What I don't like is that we deserved to win today and it is bad for our morale [that we lost the shootout]. But that is something that happens in football and there is not much I can say to players about it.
Penalties are always something that [can go either way], but I think the most important thing is that we played well.
We need to maintain ball possession in the right moments and to slow the game down at times, but I can't say too much to the players because my opinion is that they played very well.
What are you going to take away from the game?
Well, we played a different formation today, starting in a 4-2-3-1 rather than a 4-3-3.
I think that we did well, which means that I know I can change the system in future games. The players adapted very well, which is important progression for us.
Which of your players stood out the most tonight?
I think that everyone played well, considering that we had a very short time to prepare for this game and that it was the first time we played in a 4-2-3-1.
Grace Neville scored an amazing goal, just like Lois Joel. I think Eze, who played her first senior game, was very good. Dan Carter also played very well, she was able to help the team push up.
There wasn't anyone in particular, everyone played well.
The Pride return to Princes Park on Sunday, 22 October, hosting Southampton in the Barclays Women's Championship.