‘We stood up magnificently’: Gilbert praises side a€er important away point

READING FC Women’s manager Liam Gilbert praised his side’s determination after they picked up what could be a crucial point in the Women’s Championship relegation battle.

Having been on a dreadful run of form prior to the international break, the Royals ended their run of four successive defeats with a goalless draw away at Blackburn Rovers.

With just two games remaining, the result means that Reading are three points above the drop zone.

“I take my hat off to the girls,” said manager Liam Gilbert.

“We’ve been in a bit of a slump, that’s no secret, but I think the way the girls stuck to their own individual principles, continued to have honest conversations, it put us in the best position to take on today’s (Sunday’s) challenge, and they stood up to it magnificently.

“The girls gave everything to the cause. Yes we had to do a lot of defending, and sometimes that’s what you have to do to grind out points and in the end, who knows how big this point could be.

“The questions we as coaches asked of them, they showed it and more. The character, determination, togetherness to stop this rotten run we’ve been on and the point definitely put us in a better position.”

The Royals now have two games left to try and secure their safety.

They host Durham on Sunday before an away trip to bottom of the table Watford on the final day.

Gilbert continued: “Psychologically, of course, that three-point cushion is great and gives us a renewed energy going into a new week and, of course, a massive game on Sunday.

“Having said that, we will treat it the same as any other week, sticking to our principles and analysing the opposition and identifying areas where we can threaten.

“Throughout any football season there will be ups and downs, it’s certainly happened at the wrong point of the season for us.

“But today (Sunday) showed there’s a group of people in this team who believe in each other, working together and I know come this weekend we’ll be ready to give everything once again and hopefully it will be a day to celebrate.”