Bristol City interim manager Matt Beard has admitted that there was little to separate his side from opponents Leicester City in tonight’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup semi-final tie at Twerton Park.
On-loan Reading defender Kiera Skeels headed home the game’s only goal 20 minutes from time as The Robins reached the final for the very first time.
Speaking in the post-match press conference in which FAWSL Full-Time were present, Bristol City’s interim manager Beard admitted that other than the move which produced the goal, there was nothing to separate the two sides.
“Obviously, the set play was the difference” said Beard. “It was a tough game tonight, you could see that there was a lot at stake for both teams and they were a bit hesitant to take risks.
“I wasn’t overly pleased with our first half performance, particularly around our positional play and our ball retention but I felt like that was a lot better in the second half.
“We looked at the set plays and we knew that they only put one out in a two situation and to leave Ebony Salmon out there in a 1-v-1 situation was good for us.
“It was a great delivery and Kiera said that she didn’t know much about it but what a great header.”
Goalscoring hero Skeels only arrived at Bristol City six days ago on a loan deal from Reading until the end of the season but she scored her first senior career goal on her first start for Beard’s side. Her manager went on to reveal that she was nervous ahead of the match but she was to put in an excellent performance.
Beard added “Kiera was really nervous yesterday, she was honest and we had a really good conversation after training.
“The one thing that I have noticed with Kiera since she has been here is that she is strong, she is very good on the ball and she is very brave.
“I felt that she was brave getting on the end of that ball tonight. I was delighted for her.”
Bristol City will contest the FA Women’s Continental League Cup final with Chelsea at Vicarage Road in Watford on Sunday 14 March with a kick-off time to be agreed in due course.