Dan McNamara commended his team’s ‘outstanding’ performance on Sunday afternoon as Wolves Women added a deserved point to their league tally after a goalless draw with Burnley.
Amy Sims and Georgia Marshall came closest to the decisive strike for Wolves, but neither had the ball in the back of the net. Following the full-time whistle, McNamara touched on the resolute performance, the tough test from Burnley, and facing Rugby Borough up next.
On the performance
“I’m exhausted, I don't know about the players! What a group though, I thought we were outstanding. I talked this morning about giving your everything and that's all we can ask for, and the girls gave absolutely everything against a top side.
“Some of the players they've got in that group are top players. Yes they had a lot of the ball, but I think we probably had the best two chances of the game.
“We had the first chance off the line from Sims, then a save like I've never seen in my life from Kirstie Levell in the last minute to nick it. I know we were under the cosh for large periods but I actually think we created the two best chances, but a draw is a fair result, I’m not getting carried away, they were outstanding.
“I’m just really pleased and proud with the effort and application the girls have put into a ridiculous first week of the season.”
On the tough test from Burnley
“I felt the girls really stuck to what we asked them to do, resolutely. We knew these were going to be a top side and have a lot of the ball, but I’ve said it for years - try to be as comfortable without the ball as you are when you have it.
"I don’t think Burnley ever really cut us open, I can't think of a real chance when we've got away with one, which is credit to the girls in how they've listened in training and applied it on the pitch.
“All credit to the girls and the staff, Lee’s worked tirelessly alongside me this week, as well as the rest of the team to make sure the girls were ready and had everything they needed to go out there and execute the fantastic game plan. Credit to everyone involved, it was really well deserved in the end.”
On Rugby Borough next up
“I got the fixtures through and I thought, someone doesn't like us within the national league! To have to play Stoke, Burnley, Liverpool Feds and Rugby Borough within the first month was frightening.
“But we've got two wins and a draw, four points in the league, so we go into the fourth game full of confidence.
“We know Rugby will be a very tough test, so we’ll get the girls really well organised. We've got to be ready for it, embrace the challenge week-in, week-out.
“It's going to be a tough league this year, make sure we're ready and I'm sure the girls will be after what I said, it’s a tough week to start with, but now we get to relax and prepare properly.”
By Callum Greybanks
