Kirk: A Pleasing Performance
- LCFC Women beat Everton 5-1 on Wednesday evening
- There were five different City goalscorers at Pirelli Stadium
- Results elsewhere saw the Foxes exit the competition at the group stages
- City prepare to face Everton this weekend in the Barclays Women’s Super League
Five goals and five different goalscorers make a recipe for a great night of football, but Manchester City’s win over their rivals at Joie Stadium meant Kirk’s side exited the League Cup at the group stage with a convincing win over Everton.
Finishing third with eight points from four games, the Manager was proud of his team’s performance, although was actually frustrated that it wasn’t more, considering the early chances that were left begging in Burton.
“It's mixed emotions about the game over the 90 minutes,” Kirk stated. “I thought the performance was good and we started the game really strongly, and it sounds strange, but I was actually frustrated it was only 3-0 at half-time.
“We missed some good chances, their goalkeeper became a bit of a magnet instead of us going down the sides which we’ve been working on, so a little frustrated, and we got a little untidy towards the end of the first half.
“In a way that was good, because it meant we could remind them at half-time about keeping the high standards. We changed shape a couple of times to keep momentum and, on another day, it could’ve been more.”
Everton finished Group B in bottom, without a chance of qualifying ahead of kick-off, however Kirk was keen to point out that his team made changes, and that credit must be given for their determination to take the points tally to the wire.
“We’re under no illusions that Everton’s team wasn’t their strongest,” the 45-year-old continued. “But if you look at our bench, people could say the same about us. As a standalone 90 minutes, I’m really happy.
“We’re back to where we were at the start of the season, where goals are being shared around the team. I stupidly said last week that if you keep a clean sheet, you win the game, because we always score, and we didn’t on Friday, so it was nice to get a few tonight.
“It's really positive in terms of goals, and people making positive contributions, either from the start or coming off the bench, as well as people coming back from injury.
“It’s the toughest group the League Cup has ever seen. So, to perform well in the group is pleasing. I was actually happy it was such a tough set, because it meant we couldn’t give game time away for free and players would have to earn it.
“Everybody has probably enjoyed the games because they’ve all been at a high level, but of course, exciting the competition is tough to take. The groups don’t finish until tomorrow, but I think our third place could beat many other second places, which makes it even more frustrating.
“But it is what it is, we gave it a good effort. We knew we just needed to focus on what we could control, and we’ve done that. What happened in Manchester is out of our control.”
While Leicester won’t make it through to the quarter-finals, they can take great confidence from the high-scoring game, as they prepare for a trip to Walton Hall Park on Sunday, where they face Everton once again.
Just a point behind them in the Barclays Women's Super League, a win could see City climb up to seventh in the standings, and the former Toffees manager take positives from conceding late at Pirelli Stadium, as he hopes it will result in maintaining a high level for 90 minutes.
“The only positive about losing the late goal is the fact that we can’t become complacent,” Kirk explained. “We could’ve said in our preparation that, if this happens, you can concede, but now we can say that you will be punished, because we were.
“That will be a key lesson to keep us focused ahead of the game on Sunday. As much as I’m frustrated to lose the clean sheet, I’m hoping that it will pay off come Sunday afternoon.”