Reading manager Kelly Chambers believes that her side have the potential to compete with the very best after recording an excellent 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
When talking to FA Women’s Super League Full-Time, Chambers described her side’s performance against The Gunners as ‘worlds apart’ from their 5-0 defeat to league leaders Chelsea last weekend.
Reading took an early lead against Arsenal through striker Lauren Bruton, yet they were to be held to a draw with Vivianne Miedema scoring an equaliser for the visitors from close range. After the match, The Royals manager recognised the levels of improvement from her side’s previous fixture against Chelsea.
She said “We had to get over last week very quickly. We set the tone again, it’s now about keeping that consistency and making sure we deliver that week in, week out.
“If we do that, then we can compete with the best.
“We knew it was going to be difficult maintaining our intensity, as Arsenal move the ball so well.
“But we started the game how we wanted to and really put them on the back foot, making them panic, which is really unlike Arsenal.”
Chambers went on to praise goalkeeper Grace Moloney, who bolstered her portfolio of saves by keeping Reading level with an impressive reactive stop to a Jill Roord header in the second half.
“She was magnificent” said Chambers. “Even for the goal, the save she pulled off, we just didn’t have the players around the second ball.
“Grace to be fair to her has really pushed on and that’s coming out in her performances.”
Looking ahead to Reading’s next fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday, Chambers re-emphasised the importance of retaining the levels of intensity and physicality that her side produced against Arsenal.
She added “It’s important that going into Villa, we have the same standards, the same intensity as we did today.”
Chambers ended by providing a positive update on defender Kristine Bjordal Leine who was stretchered off towards the end of the game.
“I think she’s okay” said Chambers. “She hasn’t gone to hospital and is currently in the medical room, which is promising.”
Reading will look to build upon their draw against Arsenal in their fixture against Aston Villa at The Banks’s Stadium on Saturday. The Royals will continue to push on in the top half of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table with a victory in Walsall.