DEFENDER Jemma Purfield labelled Saints' 1-0 loss against Sunderland on Sunday 'disappointing', but insisted they won't let it 'affect them too much.'

Southampton FC had recorded wins in their first two games of the season against Lewes and Blackburn Rovers, which saw them sit top of the Barclays Women's Championship table. 

However, they saw their 100 per cent start to the 2023-24 campaign end in a wasteful performance against a well-drilled Sunderland side.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after Saints' first loss of the season, Purfield said: “I’m disappointed and gutted.

"We play football to win. At the end of the day when we don’t win I’m not the happiest.

“We have got to reflect on it because it’s a long season. It was going to happen at some point and I think it will be a good learning curve for us right now.

“We will make sure we reflect on it and learn from the loss. It will help us bounce back.

"It’s still early days in the season and we’ve got a lot of ambition. Hopefully, we can still achieve that."

Southampton FC had plenty of opportunities to equalise against the Black Cats but lacked the clinical edge needed in the final third.

Ella Morris went agonisingly close from a tight angle on two occasions moments before setting up Lexi Lloyd-Smith, who headed off target from close range.

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“It’s frustrating to not take our chances but you have those days," the left-back continued. "That’s football though - it’s tough.

“You can have the majority of possession and chances and not take away the three points.

“I think that was a reflection of the game, but you have to give credit to Sunderland for how resolute they were and how well they defended.

"They made it difficult and their goalkeeper pulled off some fantastic saves too. It’s a bump in the road but we can’t let it affect us too much.”

Purfield joined Saints this summer following her departure from Women's Super League side Leicester City.

The former Liverpool and Bristol City defender was involved in 15 of the Foxes' 22 league fixtures last season as they recovered from a poor start to avoid relegation.

With that level of experience, some were surprised to see her drop to the Championship to join Saints this summer.

Purfield did have offers to remain in the WSL but decided to embark on a different challenge instead.

Asked by the Daily Echo why she opted to join Saints rather than remain in the top flight, she said: "I took a look at what I wanted to achieve and my ambition matched Southampton’s ambition.

“I thought it was a good move to bring my experience into a different league and to test myself in a different environment. 

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“Marieanne (Spacey-Cale, Southampton FC Women's head coach) played a big part in bringing me here. She was my England under-23 manager.

"All of that put together made me want to be here. It makes me want to stay here and make sure we can continue to push on as a club. 

“I’ve loved every minute so far, I think the squad have been fantastic. The staff and everyone involved in the club from back to front have been fantastic.

"They’ve made me feel right at home and I can’t wait to keep pushing on.”

This isn't the first time Purfield has played in the second tier of English football.

Having broken through at Doncaster Rovers Belles, the Yorkshire-born defender also spent time at Durham before Stateside on a football scholarship.

“There has been a massive change," Purfield reflected, eight years on since her last appearance in the Championship, which was then known as the WSL 2. 

"It’s such a competitive league now. I think it used to resemble the WSL because it was a bit more predictable back then.

“Now it’s so competitive. The league is mainly professional and we play at fantastic stadiums. The steps it has made are huge. It’s a great league to play in."

Next up for Saints are recently relegated Women's Super League side Reading.

The Royals, who are now managed by former Eastleigh academy coach Liam Gilbert,  have drawn their first three games of the season.

Even though they reverted to semi-professional status before the start of the season, Reading have managed to keep hold of many WSL quality players.

Having faced them twice last season, Purfield is more than aware of the danger Reading will pose at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

"We have got to bounce back, but we are under no illusions that it's going to be easy.

"They are going to be a tough team and they've got plenty of experienced players as well who have stuck with them after last season.

"We know that we are going to have to stick together and put in some hard work on the training pitch this week to get three points there."