Derby County Women's Manager Samantha Griffiths believes her side were simply 'beaten by the better team' following their 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest Women on Sunday.
The Ewe Rams came out on the wrong side of the scoreline in front of a
record crowd of 5,243 at Pride Park Stadium, but Jackson says it wasn't
for the want of trying against the table-topping Reds.
Griffiths spoke to RamsTV after the match, to offer her verdict on the day.
On the performance...
We were beaten by a better team. There are some very good individuals in the Forest team but my players played with heart and they played with pride. We spoke about leaving everything out on the pitch and I think we did that, we were just beaten by a better team.
On the differences between the two sides...
The key moments were going to be important and we didn't take ours today. We had a couple of chances in the first 10 minutes and if they go in then it's a completely different game.
Individually I thought Charlotte Greengrass was exceptional for Forest and that was probably the difference, we just didn't have enough in those areas.
On the team selection...
We didn't want to come into this game defensive. We went attacking and wanted to play in transitions and into wide areas. In the first half we had our moments where we looked a threat in wide areas but overall Forest deserved the win.
On the record breaking attendance...
What the England Women team did in the recent European Championships and winning it has boosted Women's football massively, but seeing the crowd down here today and chatting to some of the kids; they are in awe of these players.
I can't speak highly enough of what the club has done to get the game on at Pride Park Stadium and get the number of tickets sold that we did. Hopefully we can get a number of the fans down to Mickleover against Brighouse next week.
On how much the team has surpassed expectations...
There was no hiding coming into this season that we needed to avoid relegation - that was the target. The players didn't know that or need to know that but as a group of staff we knew it was going to be a really tough season.
To be fourth in the league and for the team to have achieved what they have achieved this season - and put a run of six wins in a row post-Christmas - they need to be really proud of themselves.
They've achieved what they needed to and I just wanted them to work really hard today, come off the pitch with no regrets and just make all those that have come to watch them proud and I think they've done that.
