Megan Walsh has praised Albion’s new-look defence after they kept clean sheets in their opening two WSL matches.
A 2-0 victory over Birmingham City and a 0-0 draw at Manchester City has seen the goalkeeper nominated for the WSL Player of the Month, and you can vote for Walsh until 12pm on Friday.
She said, “It’s nice to be recognised, I was pleased to be named in the WSL Team of the Week as well. We also had Danique Kerkdijk and Maya Le Tissier in it which was fully deserved as they have been outstanding.
“We’ve got a really strong, sound back four in front of me and Rebekah Stott is part of that. Nothing was getting past her against Manchester City. The girls have played really well, we have defended properly.
“Keeping a clean sheet was maybe a bit of an issue last season. We would perform really well one week, but then not follow that up. To have two clean sheets in a row is great, but we have got to keep that going.”
Walsh has noted a change in Albion’s mentality in their first two games.
She added, “Man City have got an unbelievable team but we went into the game and didn’t really look at them or the names in their side, we just focused on what we had to do. We executed that superbly, keeping the clean sheet as a team.
“The main message was we have got to defend properly and be constantly switched on because the moment we switch off we will be punished especially against the big teams.
“Our mindset and mentality is starting to change now. We’re thinking ‘there’s no reason why we can’t get a point or three off the big teams’.
“We got a point against Chelsea last season when nobody was expecting us to. We don’t care how many stars the other team have got, because we are so close together as a group it doesn’t matter who we face.
“The quality of players we have added have really boosted the squad and have taken us to a new level. In terms of personality, both on and off the pitch, we have really added to the group.”
Hope Powell’s side take on Birmingham again this Sunday for a place in the semi-finals of the Vitality FA Cup.
“Even though we got the result against them a few weeks ago, it’s the FA Cup and anything can happen,” Walsh added. “We need to go into it with the same mentality as when we faced Manchester City and just do everything that we need to get the result.”
Vote for Walsh for WSL Player of the Month by clicking here.