Hayes: We don't mind being the underdog at Wembley

The Albion defender has enjoyed plenty of cup final success during her Celtic career and is desperate for it to continue on Sunday.

2026-05-28T05:00+01:00

Caitlin Hayes has played many times at Hampden and is looking forward to the Wembley experience on Sunday. 📷James Boardman

Caitlin Hayes says Albion don’t mind going into Sunday’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup final as underdogs.

Opponents Manchester City are favourites to complete the league and cup double while the Seagulls are making their first visit to Wembley.

Defender Hayes acknowledges the scale of the challenge but remains positive.

"I think we've been the underdog in most of our games, and it's something we probably thrived on," Hayes said. "Especially towards the end of our season, the fact that we've managed to gain momentum from that is great to go into this final with. But it's the FA Cup. It's 90 minutes."

This resilience is rooted in squad unity. The 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the penultimate WSL game earlier this month, despite heavy squad rotation, highlighted the character running through Dario Vidosic's squad.

"That game was a testament to how stuck together we are," she said. "Girls that haven't played as much stepped up and were counted. To be successful everybody needs to be on board, not just a starting eleven. We work hard against each other, but ultimately for each other."

Reaching Wembley wasn't without its psychological hurdles but after coming from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in the semi-final means Hayes believes the dynamic has shifted.

"I think the occasion of having something to lose - the opportunity to play at Wembley - was playing on everyone's mind," Hayes admits. "Openly and honestly, people probably don't expect us to win on Sunday. We're the underdog, and we perform better in that role. A big lesson will be to play the game and not the occasion, but it’s also a magical experience that everybody has to enjoy."

No one relishes the physical side of the game more than Caitlin Hayes. 📷Paul Hazlewood

For Hayes, reaching the final is a natural progression for Albion. She is full of praise for the infrastructure propelling the club forward which she describes as “the most professional environment I have ever been in.”

"It's a club that deserves silverware because of those reasons," she added. "Fingers crossed we can bring that. It's adding another stepping stone in front of us."

If Sunday's clash is tight, set pieces could prove decisive. Hayes relishes these physical battles and looks forward to matching up against City's renowned aerial threats, such as Bunny Shaw who this week committed her long-term future to City having originally decided to leave the club.

"Attacking and defending set pieces is probably my favourite part of the game," Hayes says. "I love the challenge and the competition. We try to cause as much chaos as possible, but keep it simple."

While the introduction of VAR for the final adds a new layer to manage in the penalty area, Hayes remains confident it won't negatively affect their aggressive, front-foot defending.

While Wembley is a new experience for many in the Albion squad, Hayes is no stranger to the pressure of high-stakes cup finals. During her highly successful spell with Celtic, she became well acquainted with lifting silverware on the biggest stages, helping them win two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup, when she scored the only goal in the final.

"The Scottish Cup is the equivalent to the FA Cup, and they play the final at Hampden," Hayes added. "I've played some massive occasions at Hampden and, thankfully, most of the time came out on top. Hopefully, we can keep that going for my own personal record of winning finals. I've enjoyed those occasions, and I hope to enjoy this one even more."