Interviews

Williams: We can't let this opportunity pass us by

Albion defender looking to end the year with victory over Reading today.

By Bruce Talbot • 20 December 2020

By Kyle Hemsley
Victoria Williams ranks ninth for tackles made in the WSL's first ten years.

Victoria Williams will demand more of the same from her team-mates ahead of today’s WSL clash with Reading, whether she is captain or not.

In Dani Bowman’s absence, the versatile defender led Albion in last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, something she described as ‘a huge honour’ especially as fans returned for the first time in ten months.

But nothing would please her more than to help Albion finish 2020 with a victory that could take them into the top half of the table.

She said, “It was a huge honour to captain the side and to have fans back was brilliant. You almost forget what the atmosphere was like with fans. It helped with the performance and it’s great that they are back again today.

“We were really disappointed with the Tottenham result, so it was good to turn it around against Chelsea with a good performance, even though we didn’t get any points.

By Kyle Hemsley
Victoria Williams led Albion against Chelsea.

“If we start the game today the same way and take control the opportunities will come in the opposition box. We’ll also be in the game if we’re not leaking goals. We’re chomping at the break for this game to keep the morale high going into Christmas.

"We can’t let this opportunity pass us by as we don’t play again until 10th January. The onus is on us to take our game to Reading. It will be a tough contest and we have to match their intensity but we're really looking forward to it.”

Williams admits Albion will miss Irish midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who plays the last game of her loan from North Carolina Courage today.

“She is top class, the way she moves the ball around the pitch and the pockets of space that she finds. We have benefitted as a squad from her presence. She will be a sad loss but hopefully she doesn’t like America and wants to come back!”