Powell: We have to right the wrongs

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Albion coach looking for a positive response from her team against Bristol City today.

Bruce Talbot

2021-01-30T06:30:00Z

Hope Powell wants to see her side bounce back from last weekend's difficult defeat to Manchester City.

Hope Powell is expecting her players to "right the wrongs" as they look to bounce back from their biggest defeat of the season.

An understrength Albion were beaten 7-1 at home to Manchester City on Sunday but can open up a ten-point gap between themselves and today's hosts Bristol City if they win at Twerton Park (2pm).

Powell should have a few more selection options against a Bristol side yet to pick up a WSL win of the season, but is expecting the right response from whoever is chosen to Sunday's setback.

Reflecting on that game, she said: “We can't make excuses. It's very easy to blame the fact we were light on numbers against Manchester City, but we have to learn lessons from last Sunday. Players must take ownership of themselves and their own performances because if they do the right thing as individuals it will help everybody.

“I hate to lose, and I understand it is part of football, but if you are going to lose then lose well and I don't think we did that against City, that was the most disappointing thing. City played well and did all the things you'd expect from a team of that calibre, but we need to right the wrongs.

“We set a high bar and the players have to live up to those standards. They know the level that we aspire to. There is a different challenge every week in the WSL, but you prepare in the same way, regardless of who you are playing. The elite athlete's mindset and culture is to do their best every week and that is what we are striving for.

“But we have trained and prepared well. If we perform at a good level we can get a result. It's an important game but the players have to focus on their own games, do their individual jobs well and fight for their teammates. If they do that it will give us a better chance of winning what we know will be a tough game.”