Poppy Pattinson refused to be downbeat after Brighton slipped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Women's Super League champions Chelsea. 

The Seagulls were blown away in the second half on Saturday, with a Fran Kirby strike sandwiched between two goals from red-hot Blues star Lauren James. 

But full-back Pattinson, 23, preferred to look at the positives following the loss at the Broadfield Stadium. 

Speaking to Brighton's official website, she said: "We never want to lose but we showed that fighting spirit. 

"We lost the game in a 10-minute spell and that's frustrating but I think we've got positives to take. Hopefully, we can take them into other league performances to keep picking up the points.

"We went in [at half-time] and we said we're matching them and putting up a fight. But Chelsea are a great team and credit to them. 

"I think we just need to reflect and keep putting in the work for the next league games. 

"It's super important our heads don't go down and I don't think they will. We're a strong group. 

"I think we've shown that in games so far this season and we'll continue to do that."

Brighton, who sit 10th in the WSL on 11 points, head to Manchester United on Sunday before an away day at Wolves in the Women's FA Cup seven days later. 

And boss Melissa Phillips echoed Pattinson's views after the clash with Emma Hayes' title-chasing side. 

She said: "I'm incredibly proud of the group. I think we're getting closer and closer in every performance. 

"We lost the game in a 10-minute span and that's something we need to be better at. 

"We had an incredibly disciplined first half and negated a lot of opportunities for them. The response we showed after the second was probably the response we needed after the first.

"I don't think anyone would be deflated after tonight. It's always an opportunity for us to grow and we know the areas we want to pick up points. 

"We'll be disappointed we didn't pick up a point from this game but we're getting closer."