Bedford’s baptism of fire against Gunners
NEW BOSS TAKES MISFIRING FOXES TO LEADERS ARSENAL
LYDIA Bedford says her stuttering Leicester players embracing her free-flowing philosophy can finally be the spark to ignite their season, writes Will Jennings, of Sportsbeat.
New boss Bedford, 34, will prowl the touchline for the first time this weekend when her misfiring Foxes travel to Arsenal tomorrow evening.
Leicester are yet to pick up a point in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Bedford, an experienced coach in the England Women’s set-up, has arrived in the East Midlands on a secondment from the FA until the end of the season after the departure of Jonathan Morgan last month.
The former Tottenham and London Bees coach is acutely aware of the urgent need for points and hopes implementing her progressive principles can finally fire the Foxes up the table.
Bedford, right, said: “The priority is surviving relegation and helping the team to be best prepared to do that.
“But as a coach, I love the game to be played with the ball at our feet and I want to see the girls show real confidence in their buildup play.
“But we’ve got to be realistic. We’re out to win games and we’ll be assessing every opponent and making sure we’ve got the best game plan in place to allow us to do that.
“It’s a really exciting project. It’s such a great opportunity and I’m just looking forward to getting going with the girls and working hard to get us out of this relegation battle and make sure that we stay in the WSL where we belong.
“The facilities speak for themselves. They are some of the best in the WSL and certainly being here last week and seeing that we’ve got grass pitches that we can get out on at whatever time and facilities that are our own to use is a fantastic asset for any coach working with players.
“I think the opportunity to come from international into club football and drive the team and help them to get past this battle is a real selling point for me.
“I want to test myself at the highest level – and this is it – so it’s a great opportunity.”
Leicester have slipped to a string of top-flight defeats since last season’s FA Championship promotion but did beat Manchester United on penalties in the League Cup this week.
Goalkeeper Demi Lambourne, above, was the hero as her two saves kept the Foxes hot on the heels of United and Manchester City at the top of Group B.
It’s the FA WSL campaign that’s proving a struggle for Bedford’s
newly-inherited side, however, who have netted just three times in eight games and lie one point adrift of Birmingham at the bottom of the table.
The new gaffer wants her team to build momentum from their memorable midweek triumph.
Speaking to LCFC TV, Bedford said: “It was brilliant for the girls and I think they really deserved it.
“It’s been coming in the games that I’ve watched up this point.
“They were really resilient in their performance and the way that they set up really frustrated Man Utd throughout the game.
“Confidence is brilliant, it’s what the team needs right now.
“Obviously, Arsenal are of a very similar calibre to Man Utd, if not better at times, so what we’ve achieved in the last few games will really help in their preparation for Sunday.
“We firmly have eyes fixed on Arsenal at the weekend and getting on the grass tomorrow to be prepared for that is the focus.
“We’ll be as best prepared as we possibly can and if they can bring the resilience they showed against Man Utd, I’m confident that they’ll work hard and get what they deserve.”
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