Matt Beard cannot wait for West Ham United to get their FA Women’s Super League campaign underway, but is aware of the tricky test Reading FC Women will offer in Wednesday’s fixture.
The Hammers take on the Royals in a midweek fixture at Rush Green Stadium, marking the first match in the top flight of women’s football for the Irons.
With his side coming into Wednesday’s game on the back of two successive wins in the FA Continental Tyres Cup, the West Ham head coach is looking forward to seeing his team play in the WSL for the first time.
“I can’t wait to get the league campaign underway,” Beard told whufc.com. “We’ve been in training since 2 July, so we’ve had to wait a while to get our WSL season started.
To play our first WSL match at home, in an evening fixture, will be an incredible experience for both the players and the supporters.
Matt Beard
“Everyone is looking forward to the match. We missed out in the first round of fixtures, because of the odd number of teams in the division, but to play our first match at home in an evening fixture will be an incredible experience for both the players and the supporters.
“We know Reading will be a tough start for us, but we’re excited and we’re confident in our own ability.”
The Royals travel to West Ham on the back of their first defeat of the season, a narrow 3-2 loss at Everton, but Beard knows that Wednesday’s visitors will be a tricky opponent to overcome.
Reading finished fourth in WSL1 last season and the Hammers boss recognises that his team will be playing against some tough players in their opener, but is hopeful his side will show they can compete at this level.
“We know Reading are a team that like to retain possession of the ball,” he continued. “They travel with the ball really well, but we’ve worked on what our shape looks like when we don’t have possession, and how we can force ourselves into the game.
“They’ve got some really good players like Jo Potter, Fara Williams and Brooke Chaplen, who we will need to stop from getting on the ball. Gemma Davison is also a threat, and I know that, having worked with her at Liverpool.
“We just need to play our game, get into dangerous positions, and have a go. We want to prove we can be competitive and Wednesday’s match is a good chance for us to do just that.”
Tickets are still available for Wednesday's FA Women's Super League opener at Rush Green Stadium. General admission tickets start from just £2 and can be purchased here!
