Argyle Women's Preview | Watford (H) - FAWNL Cup Quarter-final
Argyle have a chance at securing a spot in the semi-final of the FA Women’s National League Cup on Sunday, 1 December, when they host Watford at Home Park (2pm).
Any quarter-final match comes with a high level of pressure. However, with the positive form in the competition, Head Coach Ryan Perks believes his side can progress further in the cup and repeat their winning performance against Billericay Town in the previous round.
“We’ve had a good run in the League Cup and are looking forward to playing Watford for the first time,” Perks told Argyle TV. “It is a little bit of an unknown. They’ve come down from the Championship, hit a small run of form in the last few weeks and are starting to creep up the table. We’re also looking forward to the opportunity to try to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the second half on Sunday against Exeter.
“The Billericay game started quite a good run for us in terms of results and although we only won the game 2-1, I think it was quite a comfortable win and probably should have been three or four if we took our chances. We've got to take confidence from that. We have got to respect the opponent, of course. Watford are a very good side and, like I just said, they have hit a bit of form.
“They are a good footballing side. They'll probably love playing at Home Park, have threats in wide areas and are clinical in front of goal, so we've got to limit opportunities. That's first and foremost. We've then got to have a good defensive structure and look after the ball when we have it.
Despite losing to Exeter in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup last week, Perks and his side have reflected on the result and looked at what needs to be done to be in a strong position when the teams walk onto the pitch on Sunday at the Theatre of Greens.
He said: “We’ve had a bit of reflection as staff on what we need to do but also the players have had a bit of reflection themselves. We've had some meetings and discussions around the game plan and have come up with one together on how we're going to set up, press and play out. That’s come from us as a group; not just the staff telling the players. It's a collective. We've come together and reinforced key messages of how we want the team to play.
“I think that's probably what we didn't do as well in the second half on Sunday. I think our structure went out the window. In the first 40 minutes, we were probably better than Exeter, but I think after the first goal, mentally we crumbled a bit. We've got to stay switched on, stay positive and limit Watford.”
Argyle were without key members of the squad on Sunday, through suspensions and injuries. Perks gave an update on how his side is looking ahead of the important quarter-final fixture.
“Ellie's [Sara] still not going to be available this weekend,” he said. “I know she was on the bench on Sunday, but she was never going to come on. She is injured. Ella's [Stephens] back from suspension, so she'll come back into the team, and Grace Smith's now in rehab and recovery. The squad's looking fine in terms of availability.
“There might be a couple of changes to the starting line-up to give some players an opportunity again. It’s nice to have a cup run, but the sole focus is getting ready to try and get three points away to Wimbledon in a couple of weeks.”
Although the result did not go the way of Argyle in the FA Cup, the Green Army got behind the side on a horrible day of weather. The support does not go unnoticed, and Perks is hopeful the fans can get behind the girls when they need it most.
“We do need their support on Sunday in the quarter-final,” Perks said. “It's easy for people to turn against us at 5-0, against Exeter especially, but they didn't. You could still hear them trying to get the girls up and still cheered when the goal went in.
"We've got to do our part on the pitch to get the fans excited, but we are a young squad, and I think they thrive off the energy given to them. So just come along, get behind the girls and we appreciate the support.”
