MIDFIELDER Lucia Kendall hopes Saints Women can use the international break to "regroup" following their 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City.

Lily Agg sealed three points for Birmingham on Sunday after a Meg Collett own-goal in the first half had a struggling Saints trailing.

Head coach Remi Allen insisted her side "did not lay a glove" on league leaders Birmingham, before adding they fell short of the required standard.

Kendall, a Saints academy graduate, echoed Allen's sentiment and was disappointed to lose the final game before the intentional break.

She said: “It’s disappointing, we know they are a good side. In the first half, we put in a good performance.

“We were disappointed to concede the goal but towards the end of the half, we started to gain a bit of momentum.

“Half-time came at the wrong time and then we didn’t really get going in the second half. We didn’t create enough I don’t think. We weren’t as threatening, which is disappointing really.

“(Bouncing back) from the second goal was difficult. The first goal there was a lot of time. We didn’t kick on after the second goal.

“It’s a long season, we have the international break now which should be good for us to regroup. Hopefully, we can hit the ground running against Charlton.

"It’s important that we utilise the breaks in the season well. I know I’m going away but a lot of the girls will be recovering from this first part of the season. It’s been long.

“It’s nice to have a change of scenery sometimes so that we come back ready and raring to go."

Kendall has been called up to Emma Coates' England under-23s alongside Saints teammates Fran Stenson, Lucia Kendall, Tara Bourne and Freya Gregory.

They travel to the Netherlands on Thursday, October 24 before welcoming Portugal to Croud Meadow Stadium, home of Shrewsbury Town, on Tuesday, October 28.