Barton: West Ham match has feel of a rivalry

Kirsty Barton says that Sunday's game against West Ham United has a rival-like edge to it.

The Hammers finished one place above Albion last season, which has given Sunday's Women’s Super League fixture at Dagenham & Redbridge FC a different dynamic to it, according to the 28-year-old.

“It is a massive test on Sunday, we are always roughly around the same place in the table as West Ham. It almost feels like a rivalry with them.

“We need to go out there with a positive mentality and can't be reactive like we were last weekend when we went 1-0 down against Aston Villa and then decided to start playing. You can't do that in this league.”

Reflecting on the 2-0 defeat, Barton says it didn't take long for the squad to re-focus.

“Straight after the game we had a discussion, many people voiced their own opinions and we all agreed it wasn't good enough. We all came to the conclusion that it wasn’t an excuse that Hope [Powell] and [assistant head coach] Amy [Merricks] weren't there because they were self-isolating.  

“We couldn't use that an excuse after the week we had – we had prepared well for the game.

“It was a very weird experience them not being there, it was almost like that transition when you get a new manager in. It was very different, but we are professionals. We still got the right information and were prepared.”

Having joined the club nine years ago, Barton has said she is finding it tough not being a regular in the starting line-up this season. Last Sunday was her first WSL start of the season.

“It's always difficult because we want to play regular football.  But we are in an elite environment now and there is only 11 players that can start the match on a Sunday. It's a 20-25 player squad.

“You sign up knowing you might not start every game. It's very mentally tough, but it’s a team sport and we will always work for each other.”

Albion's game at West Ham on Sunday kicks off at 12.30pm and will be shown live on the club's website.