Dan McNamara says a Black Country derby in the semi-final of the Birmingham County Cup speaks for itself.
Preparing for Sunday’s clash with West Bromwich Albion at the New Bucks Head, the Wolves Women manager is hoping his side can reach the final of the competition for the third successive season and retain their title. McNamara has also offered his final reflections on last Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Brighton, while providing updates on the fitness of Anna Morphet and Beth Roberts.
On final reflections from last Sunday
“It’s been a week full of reflections. You can’t be anything but proud of what the girls and staff put on last weekend – I’m talking from the top with Laura Nicholls right the way down to the very last steward who pulled their weight to making something amazing happen.
“I thought it was a superb occasion and one that will stick with me forever, certainly the goal. We all deserved the goal and that opportunity to share that moment together.
“On another day, we might’ve looked to maybe get something from it. Whether that was extra-time or even better.
“I’m hugely proud of the girls and to do that in the fifth round against a WSL team, I don’t think anyone really believes the final score reflected the 90 minutes.”
On the fitness of Anna Morphet and Beth Roberts
“It’s never ideal to lose your captain, certainly not before one of the biggest games in recent club history.
“Fair play to Anna, I think that shows her professionalism. A lot of players would’ve gone for it, but she flagged it up 15 minutes before kick-off. She just couldn’t get through with the knee pain that she had.
“She hasn’t trained this week so we’re not expecting Morph to be available this weekend which is a shame, and it’s probably the same with Robbo (Beth Roberts).
“Robbo came off after 60 minutes and was another massive loss for us. On the injury front, I don’t think that really helped us last week and certainly doesn’t help us going into a three-game week.
“It is what it is. We’ll get challenged and tasked, which is why we have 20 great players. Hopefully we can give opportunities to players who are going to come in and do themselves justice.”
On Meesha Dudley-Jones and Layla Banaras
“I thought they were both excellent. I said to Meesha last week that she’s due an opportunity, and that opportunity will come very soon.
“Meesha’s cup-tied this weekend, as is Layla. There’s another two casualties going into the weekend that we can’t do anything about.
“I thought they were fantastic. Layla came on as an 18-year-old and I thought she looked really comfortable in what was a huge occasion. The way she moved the ball, her confidence to get on the ball – that’s why we’ve signed her.
“We want to work with her to get her fit, she’s not fit yet. We’ll get minutes into her over the next few weeks and she’ll play a big part in the run-in.
“As I said, Meesha’s due her opportunity. She’s been excellent since she’s come in, really professional in everything she’s done and we’re really looking forward to taking her forward and working with her for the foreseeable.”
On Sunday’s derby
“It’s a competition we’ve done really well in for the last few years and it’s one we want to continue to do well in.
“We know that for whoever gets through, Rugby Borough awaits so that’ll be a really good test because they’re flying in the south.
“It’s a Black Country derby so there should be limited words needed from my perspective, nevermind it’s a semi-final as well.
“Albion are on an upturn of results. It was a poor result last weekend but a really good one at home to Derby a week before.
“They’ve signed some great players – Jess Reavill and they’ve obviously got Lucy Newell. Those two look like they’re going to form a really solid partnership at the back.
“I think this will be the toughest one over the last few years. Not only are they fighting to get to a cup final, but they’re also really improving their squad. Shev’s (Siobhan Hodgetts-Still) done some great stuff there with the limited resources that they’ve got, they’re putting together a really good squad.
“I’m expecting a really tough game and I think it’ll be really fine margins. Hopefully we can come on the right side of those fine margins, which we saw were so crucial last weekend.”
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On wanting to retain the Challenge Cup
“This is an opportunity for us to get silverware. The club’s been outside of it for too long and now we’re back in amongst it, we’re hungry to keep adding to the cabinet.
“This is by no means any less important. The Challenge Cup is something we’ve prided ourselves on over the last couple of years and we want to see the Wolves Women name on there once again.”
On the crowd last week
“It was an amazing crowd and the reaction they gave to the girls not just for the goal, but right the way throughout helped them through tough moments.
“It was tough last week. We’ve looked at the numbers that went into the girls and I think 70% possession went to Brighton last weekend, so that showed how hard we worked without the football.
“We’ve got to make sure the crowd get behind them again, create that little bit of hostility that the New Bucks Head can have and cheers them on as they did last week.
“There aren’t many better games to follow up a huge game than a Black Country derby. We’ve done so well with them over the last eight so we’re certainly going to park that stat and just make sure we try and get through however that looks like on Sunday.
“Performances go out the window when you hit semi-finals and Black Country derbies. It’s about finding a way to win and that’ll be the message to the girls.”
