Brian Sorensen felt that nothing went his side’s way against Brighton & Hove Albion but admitted Everton Women need more complete performances this season after the Blues suffered a 4-0 defeat in their WSL curtain raiser at Broadfield Stadium.
The reverse was compounded by what looks to be a serious injury to Aurora Galli, with the midfielder replaced on 84 minutes following a heavy challenge from Maisie Symonds.
And with a strong shout for a denied penalty in the first half, Sorensen felt clearly aggrieved, although the Dane admitted his team need to do more.
“Everything went against us today,” he said. “We weren’t at our best, and we need to be. We have showcased that many times.
“It wasn’t a complete team performance and we need those.
“I feel the ref gave them two of the goals, and I feel we should have had a penalty in the first half, then she gives them a pen which was, for me, the same situation, but apparently not.”
On the Galli injury, Sorensen commented:
“It looked bad. We will have to get a scan and follow the normal procedure but it didn’t look good.”
The game itself go off to a competitive start, with both sides guilty of niggly fouls as they wrestled for dominance.
Chances came and Guro Bergsvand could have headed the hosts in front only to see her effort go wide. The Toffees responded with new signing Veatriki Sarri, who saw her shot bravely blocked after being picked out by Galli on 12 minutes.
Galli herself was next to test the Brighton rearguard seven minutes later but her effort was well saved by Seagulls stopper Sophie Baggaley.
The Italian was making her mark on the game and returned to being provider, this time feeding Katja Snoiejs. The Dutch striker’s header was blocked with many feeling an arm was used only for the referee Lauren Impey to disagree.
Down at the other end, Courtney Brosnan had to be alert as new signing Kiko Seike sent a warning with a powerful shot that the Blues stopper did well to keep out.
The warning was not heeded and the Japanese star fired Brighton ahead a minute later with a well-placed effort that gave Brosnan no chance.
Everton kept going till the interval as the half ended with both sides still pressing and trying to create chances.
Into the second 45 and it was the visitors who created the first opening. Inma Gabarro collected well from Sara Holmgaard’s pass but saw Baggaley equal to the task of saving saving her goal-bound effort.
But it was the hosts who claimed the next goal through Seike. The forward doubling Brighton’s advantage with a header from a Poppy Pattinson cross.
The Toffees remained positive and Sorensen elected to ring the changes, introducing Karoline Olesen while also handing a WSL debut to Honoka Hayashi as his team searched for a way back into proceedings.
The third goal was always going to be pivotal in this game and it came from the penalty spot as former Chelsea star Fran Kirby converted from 12 yards after Sara Holmgaard was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Sorensen rolled the dice again, replacing Sara Holmgaard and Sarri with Lucy Hope and Heather Payne, respectively, but it proved to no avail as Seike completed her hattrick and Brighton’s fourth with an assured finish into the top corner of Brosnan’s goal.
Galli – Everton’s outstanding performer – kept going and saw her free kick sail over the bar from 20 yards before her afternoon was cut short on 84 minutes following a meaty challenge that resulted in the Italian leaving the south coast on crutches.
The Blues will have no time to feel sorry for themselves as up next is a visit from Manchester United to Walton Hall Park Stadium on Sunday, 29 September, kick-off 2pm (BST).