After last week’s 3-2 cup victory, Glen Preston’s Vixens make the trip down to West Brom in search of their first league win.
Glen, You’re making the long trip down to West Brom this Sunday. How are you feeling about the fixture?
“Determined…it’s another chance to try and get three points and we are ready to fight and do all we can to put them on the board. We know West Bromwich Albion are a very good, young side and they have a good manager. For us, it’s a case of rolling our sleeves up again and putting in a tough, physical, aggressive display like we have in our last two competitive games.”
You’re coming into this game off the back of a fantastic win last week against Huddersfield. Has that boosted the camp’s morale?
“There’s definitely been a spring in the step this week. We’ve only had one defeat in our last five games now and that was against Blackburn who we really could have got a point against on another day, so it feels like for the first time this season we are on the up.
“The win last weekend was long overdue in our minds. Our results haven’t really reflected our performances so far this season. We realistically feel we could have taken around ten points from our last four or five league games but the smallest margins didn’t go our way, so the win against a very strong side who for me have enough quality to challenge for the title was really pleasing.
“On top of that, the fact that we mixed things up well between tough tackling, a never say die attitude and quality football, we were a very tough opponent and we have to continue that this weekend.”
We saw a few players in and out of the squad last week. What is it shaping up like ahead of this Sunday?
“We do have one or two players who unfortunately didn’t pass a fitness test this weekend but generally the squad is in a healthier shape than it has been for most of the season… we are closer to being injury free!
“Last week’s result saw us win with a fair few very good players still absent from the squad ..we had no Chantelle O’Hara, Danica Roberts, Natalie Brace, Ellie Hall, Emma Rankin, Beth Davies or our new Greek U21 international signing Yoita available, so it shows the depth we now have that we were able to still get a result like that.
“Several of those players will be returning this weekend including arguably our best player in Chan [O’Hara] so it’s going to make for a major selection headache but that’s a nice position to be in for once.”
Finally, what message do you want to send your players out with?
“Just that we have a little bit of momentum for the first time this season. Momentum is such a powerful tool in sport and when it comes around you have to grab it with both hands and not let go as best you can!
“Our performances have improved dramatically since the start of the season but we have to do all we can to be better than we were last week, that’s always our focus. We have shown we can mix up our play and be a horrible side to play against when we need but also be a great footballing side when the time is right.
“If we get the balance right this weekend and apply ourselves versus West Brom then I 100% believe in us.”
Photo: Alex Daniel