ColumnMatt Beard: We stay grounded, focused and keep working hard

It goes without saying that we were all frustrated with the draw against Charlton Athletic and we couldn’t quite get that goal we wanted.

It’s not always easy to play the same team twice over successive weekends as obviously you learn about each other, and some things work well and then you get the opportunity to maybe tweak that in the next game.

Overall, I felt we did enough to win the game. We found their goalkeeper in good form and they defended well and put their bodies on the line for the team cause. They are a good team but we just couldn’t quite break them down.

Yana Daniels had a header cleared off the line, Leanne Kiernan and Ceri Holland then had a great chance near the end, Furney had a header and then another strike that just went wide. So we created enough chances on the day to win the game but, unfortunately, just never took them.

The way I look at it is this: it’s another point on the board and we are eight points clear with four games left to play in the FA Women’s Championship.

If you can’t win the game then make sure you draw it. We kept another clean sheet, so there’s lots of positives.

We host Durham on Sunday and it will be another tough game. Durham are a team that are always in and around that top part of the table. They have been a bit up and down this season, with some inconsistency, but they always find a way.

We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and we will remain positive and keep doing what we are doing.

I told the players to worry about ourselves and let the opposition worry about us. It will be a tough game but an entertaining game and we will do as much as we can to try to get the three points.

There’s no room for error from anyone else that’s trying to challenge us for this top spot. We have a little bit of room for error, but obviously we don’t want that to come into play and I’m confident that won’t happen.

Bristol City have to win five football matches and they are reliant on us losing two or three games. We’ve got to play them away from home as well.

I feel we are in a good place and we’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing. It was never, ever going to be a foregone conclusion and I remind the players of that every single day. We’ve got to keep grounded, keep working hard and keep picking up results.

I said to the players after the Charlton game that we’ve now gone 17 games unbeaten in this league. It’s tough to do that and we keep finding ways – whether we are winning or drawing.

We’ve only conceded six goals in 18 games, so that is a great foundation to start from. We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far but we know we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and keep working at it – and we will keep doing it.

I have always said competition for places is so important and we have that. Last Sunday I gave Carla Humphrey a start and she did well. She has been training really well, deserved an opportunity and I was pleased with her.

Our captain Niamh Fahey missed out with a little bug that has gone round the camp, but she will be back on Sunday against Durham.

Niamh has been unbelievable for us this season. She is an unbelievable leader and she has got a really good personality to go with that as well. She is a great character and she has been instrumental in what we’ve achieved so far, that’s for sure.

Last Sunday people told me I had taken charge of Liverpool FC Women for the 100th time – a very proud moment for me. It’s an honour to manage this football club and I’m really enjoying it second time around as well.

We’ve created something unique this season with the bond between the players, the staff and the fans. Not having our fans there for so long due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I think it brought everyone closer together.

It’s about everyone working hard together. In my two spells with this club, I’ve worked with some talented players, some amazing staff, so everyone is responsible for everything we’ve done in the past and where we are now.

Thanks so much for your support as always.

YNWA,

Matt

Matt Beard was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com’s Steve Hunter.

Kick-off at Prenton Park on Sunday is 12pm BST, with tickets on sale at liverpoolfc.com/women-tickets. You can also watch the game live on The FA Player.