Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner says that his side must show their finishing qualities when they travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium to face Reading on Saturday.
The Red Devils take on a Reading side who have kept five clean sheets in six Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches on home soil, including in their latest outing against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
When speaking ahead of the match, Skinner said that he believes that his side will create goalscoring opportunities against The Royals but they must then be able to capitalise.
“I thought Tottenham gave them a torrid time at times in that game, I thought they were very fortunate to keep a clean sheet,” Skinner said when speaking in the pre-match press conference. “What they do have are players who are very savvy, for example, Gemma (Evans) has been a really good stalwart for them at the back. They have really good ability for blocks in one v one moments and Grace (Moloney) made some good saves on the line.
“I feel that we can create the opportunities but then you have got to have the quality to finish them. I think that we can create but knowing that they have really good league players in and out of possession and they have added international experience as well. They are very savvy, that is the best word to describe them, they are savvy in terms of their knowledge of how to win the game.
“I expect it to be difficult but I expect us to create chances and then have the quality to finish them.”
Reading boss Kelly Chambers has had to wheel and deal in the transfer market over the years but her side have remained consistent performers in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. Skinner said that he is impressed at the job that Chambers has done in assembling quality sides.
He said “They’ve always really done that (bought wisely in the transfer market). I’m sure at some point, they’d like to kick on at the top end and challenge, like they are doing now.
“I have nothing but respect for them and the job that they do. When we play Reading, it is always a difficult task because if you are not completely switched on, you can get punished because of the ways that they do things and some of the players that they have, it’s all credit to how they work. Credit to the players too because they are the ones who have come in and taken their opportunities.
“I am full of respect for what they do but I also know that we can exploit them and I know that we can really put our stamp on the game. Regardless of what Reading do, we have to do our job and if we do our job, I believe that we will be in a good position against any team.”
The Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture between Reading and Manchester United is scheduled to kick-off at 11.30am on Saturday morning.
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