Club news

Powell Looking For An Upset Against Chelsea

By Jake Ketley • 30 September 2018

Hope Powell will be hoping that her team can create an upset in this Sunday’s FA Women’s Super League match against Chelsea.

Powell admitted there was some frustration shown by the players in training after losing out to an 85th-minute goal last time out against Liverpool, but they’re now focused on the task ahead of them at the weekend.

She said, “After the disappointment of Sunday where we did really well and were a bit unlucky not to get at least a point, they’ve trained hard.

“They’ve been committed and worked very well, and I think a bit of frustration has come out in training. Towards the end of the week however, they’ve settled down and are looking forward to this weekend’s game against Chelsea.”

The manager admitted that Albion were underdogs going into the match against the current WSL and Women’s FA Cup holders, but she has took a degree of comfort from Chelsea’s slow start in the league that has seen them draw all their opening three games 0-0.

“It’s a game we're not expected to win, but if I look at the teams like Everton and Bristol City who have taken a point against them, we’re hoping we can be the third upset there and pick something up.

“It’s about the performance. As long as we perform well and try to implement the things we did in training, I will be pleased.

“I recognise that Chelsea will be adamant to win a game, so I think they will come at us quite aggressively and we have to be prepared for that.”

Powell also expects their opponents to reassert their authority on the league as they look to meet their end of season targets.

“They will try to prove a point. The expectation is that they will be there or thereabouts, certainly to qualify for European football at least, which I know is one of the targets for Emma [Hayes - Chelsea manager].

“We’re going to try to upset that as much as possible and we need points for ourselves, so it would be good to get something from them this weekend.”

The manager also has faith that her players are close to their first league win of the season, and even if it doesn’t come at the weekend, it is still early days in their campaign.

“It’s a shame that we’re playing a team like Chelsea now, but afterwards we’ll have a break to the Everton match, which will be crucial, where the squad can recover. Our home match then against Yeovil is obviously a big one for us.

“I definitely think they are getting closer to a win, and the girls believe they can stay in this league, which I do too. They have another opportunity this week and we’ll only be four games in after Sunday.

“The two teams immediately above us only have one point, so it’s still very close between us and the girls are quietly confident.”