LFC WomenPress conference: Matt Beard on Leicester clash, Dowie return and injury latest
Beard was quizzed on several topics as he previewed the Prenton Park clash, which kicks off at 2pm GMT on Sunday - a game you can watch live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.
Read the key points from the manager’s media briefing below...
On last weekend’s win over Reading…
We knew we had to win the game, especially with the results the day before, but the focus post-Manchester United from everyone has been absolutely fantastic. I felt the performance first half was tough, Reading put us under a lot of pressure and we gave away too many free-kicks and we didn’t move the ball well enough. Second half, I thought we were outstanding. We showed the players the spaces at half-time, we showed how we could break their press, and I felt we were worthy winners in the end. It was a big win, a big clean sheet, and a good team performance as well as some really good individual ones as well.
On where he feels his team are at this point in the season with 11 points in the WSL…
We are right on course. When we looked at it at the start of the season we thought 22 or 23 points would be a good return, so halfway through the season and we are bang on that target. If you look at the balance of the games, including the Continental Cup ones this season, we have won six games, drawn two and lost eight. So, we are pretty much positive results-wise, in and around 50-50 really.
The team is going to continue to evolve and continue to get better. Fuka Nagano has definitely made a difference for us, which has allowed us a bit more freedom on the top end of the pitch. But I’m pleased with the progression and we are really looking forward to another tough game on Sunday, and if we can get another win then we are really knocking on the door of West Ham, Aston Villa, and that’s where we want to be.
On a good week for Missy Bo Kearns, scoring against Reading and being called up for the England U23 squad…
Missy Bo has got the world at her feet when it comes down to football. She is a very talented player. I think the transition from the Championship to the WSL has been a tough one. This is such a tough league and she is playing against some of the world’s best players. The first part of the season, the early stages was a learning curve and she was in and out of the team.
She has got a little bit more freedom now to get forward and you can start to see that. If you look at the assist for Ceri Holland’s goal against Chelsea they are the type of things that I’m talking about, just that creativity and that spark that she has got. She is adding goals and assists to her game and for any attacking midfield player ultimately that is what, not judged on, but what people will look out for and that’s what she wants. Her and Ceri have really hit some good form lately for us.
On whether he has sympathy for Leicester boss Willie Kirk at the bottom of the table…
Well, when I went into Bristol City I was in a similar position. I think from Willie’s point of view he’s got nothing to lose, has he? He has inherited a team that has struggled for two years in the WSL. I think the good thing for Willie is he was there in a senior role anyway so he knows the squad and knew what needed improving, so going into the job he would have known exactly what he needed to do. When I went into Bristol City we just said to the players ‘look, we’ve got nothing to lose’.
Leicester have definitely improved as a team. I watched their game against Manchester City and they have improved the team. They are very organised out of possession, Willie has got his way of playing and they like to play out from the back, so you can definitely see his mark on that team now. So, it’s going to be a fascinating second half of the season.
Obviously we are in that mix and you’ve also got Brighton and Reading, so it will be an interesting second half of the season. We are obviously going to set up to try to win the game, it’s going to be tough, but if we can then we can really start to look up rather than down.
On whether Natasha Dowie is ready for action…
She will be in the squad. Tats has been fantastic. I’ve obviously worked with her for many years and I know what she brings to the team. Her personality is infectious but her standards in training are up there with the best. She is first in the gym in the morning, looks after herself, but just her professionalism. She gives us something a bit different as a centre-forward.
She is very intelligent but she is a finisher. For us, that’s vitally important because we have created a lot of chances over the course of this season and some we have taken, some we haven’t, so just to have that other option now is great for us. I also felt it weakened one of our competitors as well bringing her in, so from our perspective we’ve been really pleased how she has settled in, and it’s like she has never been away. She will definitely be in the squad and I would have thought she will get minutes.
On the latest injury news in his squad…
Unfortunately, Niamh Fahey won’t make it this weekend. We will also be without Carla Humphrey, who suffered concussion on Wednesday. Shanice [van de Sanden] is progressing well and hopefully she will be back in part of team training next week. Apart from Leanne Kiernan, everyone else is fine.
On how big a difference he expects Leicester to be from the team they scored four against in the Continental Cup…
It’s a completely different team. They have brought five new players in during the transfer window. It’s a completely different style in and out of possession to what they had previously. It’s a completely different game, we are in a good position and they are not. The pressure really is on them to come and try to get a result at our place. For us, Prenton Park has been good to us so we are looking forward to it.
I think it will be a very similar game to Reading last weekend, two teams trying to find their way into the game and fingers crossed we can get the game won. Sunday won’t define whether we are involved in a relegation scrap or wherever. We want to push on up the table and I’ve got every faith and confidence in the group. We’ve really recruited well in this window and that will really help us progress and kick on and finish this season as strong as we can.