Former England midfielder Izzy Christiansen says Albion are making positive strides under Mikey Harris.
The Seagulls have implemented a change in playing style since Harris was appointed interim head coach in February – and have picked up notable wins at Leicester City and Bristol City in recent weeks to pull clear of the WSL drop zone.
The performances have not gone unnoticed by Christiansen, who will be keeping a close eye on the team as they face her former side Everton at the Amex Stadium on Friday evening.
“I’ve really loved watching the bravery they have shown under Mikey Harris in recent weeks,” she told the matchday programme. “When you are a team that plays out from the back, it’s the manipulation and the control you have with it which is so important.
“I saw the team do it for half a game against Liverpool, and I love that approach, so I think there’s a bright future ahead.
“We saw the likes of Vicky Losada and Pauline Bremer arrive last summer and the next step is to bring the performance levels up to their high standards. As I mentioned, it’s a work in progress, but the signs are really positive for the future.”
Longer term, the Seagulls have the ambition of becoming a top-four WSL outfit and Christiansen – who has vast experience of the women’s game, having won a host of honours with Man City and Lyon – believes the club has the infrastructure to reach their target.
“It’s going to be hard but not impossible,” she added. “An unbelievable number of resources and a tremendous work ethic are needed behind the scenes to get the squad in a position to be able to compete.
“I think elite performance facilities are the most important thing for a women’s team to be successful and you guys have got that. I genuinely think the non-negotiable is a high-performance environment, giving the players the tools in their daily habits to be able to become elite players, so now it’s about everything else being knitted together. I wish everyone at the club well on the journey.”
*You can read more from Izzy in Friday’s matchday programme v Everton, which will be available on the night at the Amex, priced just £2.50.