Albion will work on their play at the sharp end as they look for a belated New Year bounce.

But they will also be happy to get a week of rest and training after their busy fortnight ended in gruelling fashion.

Albion were held 1-1 at home by Crystal Palace after Maisie Symonds was shown a straight red for a foul on 48 minutes.

My Cato levelled via a deflection on 88 minutes and, in a frantic period of ten added minutes, Marisa Olislagers hit the spot as both teams chased a win.

Albion controlled the first half and had good possession.

But they needed a gift own goal to go ahead and the football, while patient, did not really flow in attack.

Asked if that was a fair criticism, skipper Vicky Losada said: “Yes, we want to be better and we said that in the changing room after the game.

“We needed to create more chances in the first half.

“We need to be more ruthless in the final third.

“This league is like that. In the first half we had control.

“They weren’t pressing us, we were able to turn and put balls in the pockets.

“But then it was 1-0. You start the second half and it (the red card) just happens.”

Head coach Dario Vidosic was unhappy with the red card shown for Symonds foul on Aimee Everitt in midfield.

Vidosic, who was a frustrated figure at full-time, said: “I don’t think it’s a red.

“Seeing it live, it looked like Maisie got her on the top of the foot going for the ball and it was all very close.

“Live, it all happened pretty quickly.”

Vidosic was also unhappy when play was stopped for a free-kick after Palace goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari fouled Nikita Parris just outside the box.

The whistle went immediately even though the ball had run to Rachel McLauchlan with Majasaari out of position.

It felt at the time like a great chance to play advantage although replays also showed Palace had got a defender across to close down McLauchlan.

Vidosic said: “We will ask and see what they come back to us with.

“When the game is stopped like that you think it going to be a red.

“But then you lose the advantage to make it 2-0 at the time.

“I thought we were in complete control and didn’t really get threatened much, even when we were down to ten.

“But it’s difficult, especially with the two weeks we have had and the fatigue in the legs.

“Probably the last thing we needed was a red card, especially in the 48th minute.

“But I thought we still did really well.

“Controlled most of it and even found the energy to get forward a few times.”

Albion dug deep at the end of a period of five games in a fortnight, including a couple of long away trips.

Both Vidosic and Losada praised their character and fitness.

Losada said: “With one player less it becomes very difficult.

“Mentally you are tired and I think in that moment the team responded well.

“I think we were very resilient and in the end that’s football.

“They were creating chances and we also had chances and I think we deserved more to score that goal - but that’s football.”

Albion face Aston Villa in the FA Cup at Walsall on Saturday (midday).