Albion head to the Academy Stadium this afternoon to take on a title-chasing City side, and Powell wants her side to draw upon this season’s impressive performance against Chelsea to bounce back from disappointing display away at Tottenham Hotspur a week ago.
She said, “We have to play for a bit of pride and bounce back from a pretty average performance against Spurs. The girls weren’t happy after the game, as they know they didn’t perform and would like to right that wrong at the weekend.
“The expectation is that Man City will gain the three points, so the pressure is off and hopefully we can play with a bit more freedom.
“When the pressure is off, you tend to relax a bit more. We’ve therefore got to give it a really good go and make a really good account of ourselves.
“We did it against Chelsea earlier this season, so why can’t we do it again? Saying that, we recognise the quality that those top four teams have, and you have to accept that.
“But what you have to do is take the game by the scruff of the neck and do your best.”
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Powell used this season’s two contrasting performances against Arsenal as examples of the best and worst ways to approach a game of such magnitude, and stressed the need to end 2019 with a gutsy display.
“Before we played against Arsenal in the league, we spoke about pride, but were very disappointing in that game [lost 4-0].
“But when we played Arsenal in the cup, the players showed what they were about, and I think they need to do that again.
“The most important thing for me is that we have a go. If we lose, then we have to lose well. All I’m asking for is a good performance ahead of our last game before Christmas.”