The hosts enjoyed the majority of the play in the first half despite Jessie Fleming’s early opener, with Caroline Weir forcing a fine save from Ann-Katrin Berger when sent through one-on-one before Lauren Hemp had strong claims for a penalty waved away by referee Rebecca Welch.
But Sam Kerr’s close-range finish in stoppage time proved a hammer blow, with City conceding twice more in the space of three second half minutes soon after the restart to put the game out of reach.
And while Taylor admitted that we were made to pay for some defensive errors, he insists the final score belied our overall display, particularly in the first 45 minutes.
“It was a tough score for us to take, especially with how we played in the first half,” the City boss reflected.
“The players showed quality in how we fought back but it was disappointing to go in at the break conceding an extra goal.
“I thought in the first half we were very good, in the second half it was more even and again we’re punished, we don’t defend well enough from a set-piece.
“It’s a tough score to take but there were real positives. On another day we stay in the game and have a chance to win it.
“I thought our build-up play was great from the back all the way forward. We controlled possession in the first period and the players did exactly what I asked.
“I spoke about the pride in the performance at half time despite being behind, we don’t want to be conceding but our reaction to it was very good.
“We dominated possession particularly in the first half and that’s what we look at. Usually performance leads to a result, but today it hasn’t done.”
Looking ahead, the City boss insisted it was a case of sticking to our core beliefs and principles.
And with plenty more football to be played between now and the end of the season, Taylor said he remained confident that the squad would recover and reignite our push to try and secure a Champions League spot next term.
“We just need to move on, and catch up a bit of ground,” Taylor asserted.
“We know Chelsea are a very good team, a strong team, and with good options on the bench. We know we were up against some strong opposition when we aren’t at our strongest.
“But nothing changes, the attitude is still to be in Europe, we still believe we can get there, if we’d won today we’d be a lot closer but I still think there’s plenty to come.
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“A lot of teams are taking points off each other and we need to capitalise by putting points on the board.
“I think the players today showed me we are capable of playing the way we want to play and building the way we want to play.
“We just need that little bit more fortune and be more ruthless in attack when it matters and cut out errors at the back.
“We move to the next game, simple as that. We need to beat Aston Villa (next weekend).”
