Christmas cheer for manager Ludlow
WALES manager Jayne Ludlow says she is looking forward to Christmas now after Wales Women continued their unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying.
Wales secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica on Tuesday thanks to a Kayleigh Green goal.
But the visitors had goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan to thank for keeping the scores level as she saved a penalty with just six minutes remaining.
It means Wales stay top of Group 1, a point ahead of secondplaced England – 5-0 victors over Kazahkstan on the same night – who have played a game less.
Ludlow’s side have claimed three wins in their opening four matches, as well as earning four clean sheets in the process, and the boss was understandably delighted to end the year on a winning note heading into 2018.
“It is a fantastic result for us,” she said. “We can look forward to Christmas now.
“The girls have some big games to come, but we’ve achieved all the targets we have set so far and they have done it again today, which is fantastic for us.
“When we come away, it is a tough task for us, I am not sure we played as well as we could have, but we fought and the effort put in is what got us the result.
“We have worked hard as a group and it is really nice to see it paying off.”
Wales will return to qualifying action next spring when they travel to St Mary’s in Southampton to take on England on April 6.
The Lionesses have been in fine form so far in qualifying, winning three games out of three and scoring 15 goals in the process.
“We are only halfway through the campaign and we need to keep fighting and keep pushing,” said Ludlow.
“The girls have challenges to meet over the next few months and we focus on the next game and that is a huge one against England.”