Blackburn Rovers defender Jade Richards believes that there is pressure on Liverpool to deliver results ahead of the two sides’ meeting at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium this weekend.
The Reds were relegated from the Barclays FA Women’s Super League on a points-per-game basis last season and currently find themselves in third position in the FA Women’s Championship after collecting 12 points from an available 21 so far this term.
Liverpool come up against an in-form Blackburn Rovers side this weekend who have recorded back-to-back victories in the FA Women’s Championship. When speaking to FA Women’s Super League Full-Time ahead of the match, Rovers defender Richards said that the pressure is on Liverpool to collect the three points.
“It is going to be a tough game but it is whoever turns up on the day, regardless of how much preparation you do” the defender said. “We know that we are going to be the underdogs for that game but we will have no pressure.
“They will have pressure, they’ve come down from the top league so the pressure is on them to get back up.
“We will just focus on ourselves and make it difficult for us to be broken down.”
Blackburn Rovers have kept clean sheets in each of their last two home fixtures, a record in which Richards has played a big part. The signing of the experienced defender was unveiled by Rovers just hours before the start of the new season but Richards told us that a deal was in the pipeline throughout pre-season.
“I was training with Rovers since the start of pre-season” Richards said. “When I spoke to Gemma (Donnelly), it was always my intention to come to Blackburn.
“It was a no-brainer really, I wanted to be part of a family and that’s exactly what I am a part of.”
Despite celebrating just her 28th birthday on Friday, Richards is the oldest member of the Rovers squad. Her experience will be vital in helping the development of the younger players in the squad and it is a role which the defender is clearly looking forward to carrying out.
Richards added “I am hoping to be able to share my experiences with the younger girls and put an arm round them.
“I’m 28 now so it is all about the youngsters coming in to withhold, play the game and knock me off my perch and take my spot.
“It is about educating them, that has always been a part of my game, educating the youngsters and helping them through the game because there is nothing worse than going through a rut. They need to have an arm around them and to be told that they are good enough and can do it as that is when you get the best out of them.”
Blackburn Rovers’ FA Women’s Championship fixture against Liverpool kicks-off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon and will be available for fans to watch live on the FA Player.
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