ColumnMatt Beard on West Ham wins, Leanne Kiernan confidence and Rugby Borough

That was a pleasing few days for us beating West Ham United in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and Barclays Women’s Super League. I was absolutely delighted with the response from the players.

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After the defeat at Leicester City, we were desperate to put things right. Last Wednesday I felt it was a really, really professional performance from start to finish in the cup tie and it was probably one of our best performances of the season.

We went 2-0 up and then after they went down to 10 players I felt the way we managed the game was great.

I thought in both games we were comfortable throughout. We were a bit unlucky not to get that second goal on Sunday – Taylor Hinds hit the bar and we had a couple of opportunities with Jenna Clark from a corner.

Yes, they had a period in the last five minutes when they got a few set-plays but I felt we were comfortable and we deserved the three points.

To come through with a 5-0 win, into the next round of the cup and three points in the WSL, it has been a really positive week because it’s put us in a strong position now for match fitness and competition for places. I’m really pleased.

It was great to see Leanne Kiernan scoring in both games. It’s like anything, once a centre-forward gets a goal then it’s like the weight is off your shoulders, you’ve got your goal and you can crack on.

If I look at Leanne’s goal on Sunday, it was a world-class finish, great build-up, great work from Ceri Holland and then just that little deft touch. When I watched it back, their goalkeeper just wasn’t expecting it.

If you look at Leanne last season, she was just grateful to be back on the pitch after a bad injury.

I’ve told her this time and time again in conversations when she asks me what she needs to do, she just needs to be herself. She is an instinctive finisher, she knows the game, I don’t want her to overcomplicate things and just keep it nice and simple.

She is a pest to the opposition, she is direct, she runs at people, she is good in the air and, to be honest, she is one of the best finishers I’ve ever worked with in women’s football.

I always remind Leanne of a goal she scored under me at West Ham. It was a tough game and it was just an instinctive finish but nobody else would have done that but Leanne.

We are building Leanne’s minutes up and we’ve got to be careful with her because she is so explosive with her high speed and the ground she covers. The great thing for me is we’ve got great options on the bench, so we can protect her.

I’m starting to see glimpses that the confidence is coming back in the group. With back-to-back clean sheets, Grace Fisk has played a big part in that because she has been outstanding in our last two games.

We missed her at the start of the season when she was injured. She is such a clever player, reads the game, steps in. Just a great player.

It was important for us to get that win in the WSL on Sunday. We are now only five points behind fifth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. There is still so much more to come from this team and we are only going to grow and get better.

I actually do think this is probably one of the strongest squads I’ve ever had, definitely the strongest since I came back to this club.

We are in a good place and we’ve just got to continue that and keep going.

We are back in Women’s FA Cup action again on Sunday when we travel to face Rugby Borough in the fifth round (kick-off 12.30pm GMT at Nationwide Windows Arena).

They have a 3G pitch and their facilities look fantastic – it looks like a really well-organised club.

We’ve watched a few of their games back and it’s going to be a tough game. I know Burchy [Lee Burch], their manager, really well from his Yeovil Town and London Bees days, so this is not going to be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination. Burchy is a good manager, a good coach, and he will have them organised.

From my perspective, the Women’s FA Cup is the only trophy that we can win. In the WSL, I still believe we can get into that top six – if we could get fifth that would be a good achievement.

We know on our day we can beat anyone. This is a competition historically that is the biggest competition in women’s football and the prize is Wembley.

I know what it takes to get there – I’ve been fortunate to have done it with Chelsea, Charlton Athletic and West Ham – so from my perspective it’s been about making sure we get through January.

I spoke with the medical staff when we came back after Christmas about getting these players back on the pitch because January was a really important month for us to get points on the board. We’ve got six points from it, got through in the FA Cup and put ourselves in a good position now.

I’m really pleased with our transfer window and I was delighted to bring in Alejandra Bernabe from Chelsea on loan on the last day of the window. She is an attack-minded left-back who loves a tackle and is going to be an exciting player.

Taylor Hinds has been fantastic this season and she has added international football into her calendar with Jamaica as well, so I think it’s important we have that competition.

Alejandra will bring depth and going forward she is very good, likes to get at defenders and put crosses into the box. So with players like Leanne and Sophie Roman Haug, they can get on the end of them. This is an exciting signing for us.

Thank you for your continued support as always.

YNWA,

Matt

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

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