Matt Bevans spoke to watfordfc.com following the Golden Girls’ 3-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace in the Barclays Women’s Championship, reflecting on conceding another early goal, the battle against relegation and the return of key players, as well as looking forward to the clash with Sunderland at Vicarage Road on Easter Sunday (March 31).
Read what the Watford Interim Head Coach had to say below…
On conceding early:
It’s something we have to be better at. It’s something we are addressing as a group, because first and foremost it is a very, very tough ask if you keep conceding first and conceding early, and having to chase games. It almost throws out the work you’ve done all week, when you are continuously chasing matches.
On the mood amongst the players:
The mood from us is belief, and it has to be. It is really easy for me to say that we will keep believing and keep fighting, but if you watched how the girls trained and how they are trying to implement things, you would see that for yourself.
Until that last ball is kicked, or it is not mathematically possible, that is the message, and that is firmly what we believe in.
On the half-time message at 2-0 down:
For the first 20 minutes, we weren’t at the levels we need to be at to compete in this league, our basics were poor, our support angles and shouting for the ball was poor, and we were losing first and second contacts.
The last 15/20 [minutes of the first half] we looked like ourselves, we moved the ball quicker, we were aggressive on the press, and that was the message at half-time, to continue to show that fight and that desire and bravery to get on the ball, and work really hard off the ball.
On returns for Laila Harbert and Harley Bennett:
It was really pleasing to have them back. I think everyone could see we lacked numbers last week, so to have more squad depth, and more options for us, is really important, and they are two really important players for us.
On the game at Vicarage Road this coming Sunday:
We will give everything for as long as me and the staff are at this football club. We want the team to represent hard work and desire, so we will give everything we can to get three points, and that is the message.
We want to do it our way by being brave, and being hard to beat, and really hard-working, so I’ve got no doubt the group will give us everything next week.
On Michelle Agyemang possibly making a return against Sunderland:
There is a good chance.
