London City Lionesses head coach Melissa Phillips - Image from London City Lionesses

London City Lionesses head coach Phillips highlights learning curve ahead of Leicester City test

London City Lionesses head coach Melissa Phillips believes that her side have learnt plenty about themselves in the opening weeks of the new season.

The Pride have already played two of the promotion favourites in Sheffield United and Durham while they will face another of the FA Women’s Championship’s high-flyers on Sunday with big-spending Leicester City providing the opposition at Princes Park.

London City Lionesses lost both matches against Sheffield United and Durham but head coach Phillips believes that her side are now better equipped to face Leicester City this weekend.

“Playing the difficult schedule that we have had so far in our league has helped us grow tremendously and learn a lot about ourselves” Phillips told FA Women’s Super League Full-Time in London City Lionesses’ club press conference. “You grow the most and learn the most about yourselves when you challenge yourselves against quality teams.

“We have learnt a lot about our mindset and where we need to grow defensively but also, it is about putting the ball in the back of the net, that’s the hardest part of the game.”

Only Lewes have scored less goals that the London City Lionesses so far this season and Phillips is well-aware of the need for her side to improve in the final third of the pitch.

She added “I think that’s where the results aren’t indicative of the team that we are right now.

“If you look at the goals that we have conceded, they’ve been from penalties or set-pieces and some of our games could go either way.

“It is about refining our attacking identity and really challenging ourselves to be really fit in that area.”

Leicester City arrive in Dartford on Sunday unbeaten in their last six outings in the FA Women’s Championship but Phillips believes that her side will be well-prepared for Jonathan Morgan’s team after putting in some good work on the training pitch during the international break.

“It has been a week full of growth” said the London City Lionesses head coach. “We are ecstatic for the players who have been away on international duty and we look forward to having them back and bringing their experiences which will really add value to the team.

“In house, the focus continues to be on ourselves and our development so we’ve been making things extremely competitive and having a bit of fun doing it.

“We are looking forward to the Leicester game. They have had some very solid results in the early weeks of the season and ultimately, they will be a challenge for us.”

London City Lionesses’ FA Women’s Championship fixture against Leicester City will kick-off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon with highlights available to stream on the FA Player.

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