ColumnMatt Beard on showing a response, West Ham and Fuka Nagano injury latest
In his latest column, Liverpool FC Women manager Matt Beard reflects on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final loss to Leicester City and previews Sunday’s home meeting with West Ham United.
There’s no doubt that it was a very disappointing day for us on Saturday against Leicester City and I look back on it as an opportunity missed for us.
It was a tough one to take and I still can’t put a finger on the performance. I just think when we started the way we did and gave them an early goal, I wouldn’t say you are giving yourself a mountain to climb, but it’s difficult, especially against a team like Leicester who are well organised defensively.
We had two big opportunities in the first half which we didn’t take and goals change games. Their second goal probably sums that quote up really because we should have had a corner. Their goalkeeper has punched the ball away because if she doesn’t then Jenna Clark is heading that towards goal.
We still have to defend it better, like the first goal, and from a defensive point of view that was uncharacteristically really poor from us with the gap they had to exploit. So, we were masters of our downfall on Saturday.
Our use of the ball wasn’t like it has been and that was frustrating. We had the home advantage and had the opportunity to progress to the semi-finals, so I think it’s a big opportunity as a team that we have missed. That’s desperately disappointing and gutting.
However, as I’ve said before, we have had times when we have not done so well then bounced back, so our focus now is to finish as high up the league as we can. We have to make sure that we don’t let one result affect what has been a really good season for us so far.
Yes, it’s disappointing because we would have loved the opportunity to progress and get into a semi-final, because in a one-off game you never know what can happen. But that has gone now and we have to show a lot of character and make sure we come back from that stronger.
We have a great chance to bounce back when we are at Prenton Park again on Sunday when we host West Ham United in the Barclays Women’s Super League (kick-off 12pm GMT).
West Ham are improving every week. They have had a really good transfer window and brought in three experienced international players that have really helped them.
Rehanne Skinner came in late as manager with Rick Passmoor and has done a very good job.
West Ham beat Arsenal recently and drew with Manchester United, so that shows how the team has improved and the progress Rehanne is making.
There are no easy games in the WSL – we know that – and we have just got to make sure we are at our best. Prenton Park is a place we like playing at, so hopefully we can get back on track.
On the injury front, Fuka Nagano has had a scan on her hamstring and we are told it will be seven to 10 days, so she could be available for Sunday. Fingers crossed on that one.
Fuka felt it on Friday in training, so we had the scan on Saturday afternoon. We are anticipating she may be available for the weekend because previously when she has had little muscle injuries she has recovered quite well.
We will have Ceri Holland back from suspension raring to go again but we lose Gemma Bonner for one game due to suspension.
In Fuka’s absence, Sofie Lundgaard did well again for us last Saturday. She has taken her chance in the last couple of weeks and she has done well.
Sofie is only young – we have to remember that. She has been patient and we’ve been pleased with her.
We are pleased with where we are and what we are doing. We have already surpassed last year’s points tally, we are joint-fourth with Manchester United, we have a bit of breathing space from sixth place down. But I know better than anyone that we have got a real tough run of games coming up.
For us to beat Aston Villa, a point against Tottenham Hotspur even though I felt we should have took all three, these are the games we have to win and especially at home. But like I always say, if we can’t win the game, we at least need to make sure we get a point out of it.
It’s always the case you will have ups and downs when you get a few injuries and suspensions. And for these players to get the consistency week in, week out, it’s tough to do that in the WSL – but I have every confidence and faith we will get there.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
YNWA,
Matt
Matt Beard was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter