Davies looking forward to starting County Cup defence on Sunday
Last Sunday may have seen the FC United’s Women’s Team defeated for the first time in six months in all competitions and for the first time in the 2017/18 season, but it certainly didn’t put an end to ever-present centre-back Francesca Davies’ form. Our no.2 put in another stalwart performance in United’s defensive line on a tough and physically demanding afternoon in our FA Cup defeat to Wigan just six days ago.
Having had the time to look back on it as a whole, Davies admits that Sunday’s game was a huge mental test for not just herself, but the Reds as a team. "There was definitely plenty of room for improvement in the game! Mentally, that was one of the hardest games we’ve played as there was undeniably some aspects of the game that were out of our control that had a massive impact. The biggest test of character now, is how we pick ourselves up and move on!"
Sunday’s loss was nothing short of its dose of chaos with both sides eagerly battling it out for a place in the next round of the FA Cup, but Davies appeared to be calm and composed throughout the 90 minutes putting in a performance that deservedly won this week’s Player of the Match. She states that the Reds always knew that Wigan would be a tough opponent, a side that they narrowly overcame in last year’s Argyle Cup semi-final. "We always knew it would be a tough match but to be honest they are the games that I live for. After the sending off, the team as a whole were very angry but we just had to get on with it".
"Personally, I try to block out everything other than what is happening on the pitch. I concentrate on the defence, our positioning and the tasks I’ve set myself for within the game. I became determined to try and not let them score during free play and therefore I was always going to give it my all until the final whistle", she added.
The defeat as mentioned earlier was unfortunately the Reds’ first of the new season and therefore was one that Davies and the squad found tough to take but states that manager Luke Podmore has been key in re-instating the positive mentality in the past few days. "Immediately after the game, the changing rooms had a tense feel and people were visibly unhappy. Luke [Podmore] helped to change everyone’s mood on Wednesday by starting with a fun session. It helped to put all of Sunday’s negativity behind us and I’m now looking forward to the tough tests that we have to come in the next few weeks".
It’s fair to say that Davies has been one of the players in the squad who has certainly blossomed in a system of three at the back, playing a large part in seven clean sheets from our first twelve games of the 2017/18 season but says it was a completely new look to her when Podmore first took charge. "Before Luke came in, I had never played in a back three. I was pretty apprehensive and nervous as to how we would adapt to it at first. Initially we spent a lot of time in training working on the defensive formation and now I feel as a back three, we are all very comfortable with our roles and expectations".
With the Reds set to start their defence of the Manchester FA Women’s Cup on Sunday against Didsbury FC Ladies tomorrow afternoon, Davies recalls a special night in April in which the Reds won the trophy for the first time in their history. "I was pretty nervous initially; there had been a lot of rivalry between us and City of Manchester over the previous few years. The fans turned out in great numbers which is always fantastic as they get behind us and really help with motivating the team. It was such an amazing feeling when the final whistle went!"
"There was such a buzz on the pitch, everyone was ecstatic!??? ,she recollects.
As holders this season, Davies believes that the pressure certainly will be on the Reds but it’s a trophy she would love to lift again at the end of the season. "There will be an element of pressure to perform well especially as there will be some tough competition in and around us. We seem to be the kind of team where everyone brings their A game so we will definitely have to give it our all in every game. I really hope that we can be successful in retaining the cup this season, and that all starts with a tough game against Didsbury on Sunday".
Despite tomorrow’s game on paper as a home fixture, the Reds have been forced to relocate to Abraham Moss to host Didsbury with the men’s team facing Tamworth FC at Broadhurst Park. And Davies doesn’t believe that the relocation will have too much of an effect on the Reds in tomorrow’s match. "Potentially there could be some apprehension from some players with us not having the same home-field advantage as usual however several players in the team have previously trained and played matches at Abraham Moss so they are used to the surroundings".
"It’s a 3G pitch which particularly suits our style of play. Ultimately I think that our determination to put right last week’s result will help us to overcome any uneasiness about not playing the game at Broadhurst!", Davies added.
You can see Davies and the Reds get their defence of the Manchester FA Women’s Cup underway at home to Didsbury FC Ladies tomorrow at Abraham Moss High School - 2pm Kick-off!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
Having had the time to look back on it as a whole, Davies admits that Sunday’s game was a huge mental test for not just herself, but the Reds as a team. "There was definitely plenty of room for improvement in the game! Mentally, that was one of the hardest games we’ve played as there was undeniably some aspects of the game that were out of our control that had a massive impact. The biggest test of character now, is how we pick ourselves up and move on!"
Sunday’s loss was nothing short of its dose of chaos with both sides eagerly battling it out for a place in the next round of the FA Cup, but Davies appeared to be calm and composed throughout the 90 minutes putting in a performance that deservedly won this week’s Player of the Match. She states that the Reds always knew that Wigan would be a tough opponent, a side that they narrowly overcame in last year’s Argyle Cup semi-final. "We always knew it would be a tough match but to be honest they are the games that I live for. After the sending off, the team as a whole were very angry but we just had to get on with it".
"Personally, I try to block out everything other than what is happening on the pitch. I concentrate on the defence, our positioning and the tasks I’ve set myself for within the game. I became determined to try and not let them score during free play and therefore I was always going to give it my all until the final whistle", she added.
The defeat as mentioned earlier was unfortunately the Reds’ first of the new season and therefore was one that Davies and the squad found tough to take but states that manager Luke Podmore has been key in re-instating the positive mentality in the past few days. "Immediately after the game, the changing rooms had a tense feel and people were visibly unhappy. Luke [Podmore] helped to change everyone’s mood on Wednesday by starting with a fun session. It helped to put all of Sunday’s negativity behind us and I’m now looking forward to the tough tests that we have to come in the next few weeks".
It’s fair to say that Davies has been one of the players in the squad who has certainly blossomed in a system of three at the back, playing a large part in seven clean sheets from our first twelve games of the 2017/18 season but says it was a completely new look to her when Podmore first took charge. "Before Luke came in, I had never played in a back three. I was pretty apprehensive and nervous as to how we would adapt to it at first. Initially we spent a lot of time in training working on the defensive formation and now I feel as a back three, we are all very comfortable with our roles and expectations".
With the Reds set to start their defence of the Manchester FA Women’s Cup on Sunday against Didsbury FC Ladies tomorrow afternoon, Davies recalls a special night in April in which the Reds won the trophy for the first time in their history. "I was pretty nervous initially; there had been a lot of rivalry between us and City of Manchester over the previous few years. The fans turned out in great numbers which is always fantastic as they get behind us and really help with motivating the team. It was such an amazing feeling when the final whistle went!"
"There was such a buzz on the pitch, everyone was ecstatic!??? ,she recollects.
As holders this season, Davies believes that the pressure certainly will be on the Reds but it’s a trophy she would love to lift again at the end of the season. "There will be an element of pressure to perform well especially as there will be some tough competition in and around us. We seem to be the kind of team where everyone brings their A game so we will definitely have to give it our all in every game. I really hope that we can be successful in retaining the cup this season, and that all starts with a tough game against Didsbury on Sunday".
Despite tomorrow’s game on paper as a home fixture, the Reds have been forced to relocate to Abraham Moss to host Didsbury with the men’s team facing Tamworth FC at Broadhurst Park. And Davies doesn’t believe that the relocation will have too much of an effect on the Reds in tomorrow’s match. "Potentially there could be some apprehension from some players with us not having the same home-field advantage as usual however several players in the team have previously trained and played matches at Abraham Moss so they are used to the surroundings".
"It’s a 3G pitch which particularly suits our style of play. Ultimately I think that our determination to put right last week’s result will help us to overcome any uneasiness about not playing the game at Broadhurst!", Davies added.
You can see Davies and the Reds get their defence of the Manchester FA Women’s Cup underway at home to Didsbury FC Ladies tomorrow at Abraham Moss High School - 2pm Kick-off!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
First Posted ~ 21:14 Sat 23 Sep 2017
News ID ~ 7606
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021