Karen Hills praised her winning squad as she reflected on The Addicks' 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday in WSL 2.
Overall, Charlton earned the win, but it was not without having to fight against a game Forest team who were dangerous throughout. Digging in, never giving up, fighting to the end, all attributes that have become part and parcel of Hills' side this season and she is the first to be proud of that.
“That’s what we do, that’s our identity. The work rate, the desire, the determination; that’s what my team’s about and I couldn’t be more proud of them today,” said Hills.
“I thought, first half, we were the better side. In terms of being able to finish, we had two really good finishes, I thought we had some really good moments. Then second half I thought we had to dig in a bit. The momentum was definitely in their favour, and they’ve got some fantastic players and Sophie’s had to pull off a couple of good saves as well.
“But credit to my players, how they stuck to the task, how the game changers came on and helped us get over the line. That’s what we do.”
Lucy Fitzgerald was on the scoresheet again, bagging a brace, with the first being a beautiful effort from 22 yards that nestled in the top corner of the Forest net. Fitzgerald said that she has been encouraged by the gaffer to shoot more.
Hills admitted as much. “Absolutely we’ve worked a lot in training because there’s not a perfect opportunity and a perfect goal, so when you get those moments, back yourself.
“You’re never going to be told not to shoot and then when you get chances like that you’ve got to take them and so I’m really pleased for her, she’s worked so hard for the team, and she deserved those two goals today.”
The match against Forest also saw The Addicks welcome back Ellie Mason and Kiera Skeels to the pitch after time away from the squad. The returning pair boosted the team and helped them get over the line with Hills remarking that having Skeels back – who has been out of action since October – was like ‘a new signing’.
Hills said: “I thought both of them came on and carried us over that last little hurdle.
“We’ve got an unbelievable group out there that want to work for each other. The desire to put their heads in places where they probably don’t want to, but they do for the team, and those two were excellent.
“They had 10 minutes and they had to work exceptionally hard in that 10 minutes to really stop what I thought was a very good Nottingham Forest team. But, overall, every single player out there has done their job today and now we move onto the next.”
The next game is on Sunday against Durham at home. The team sit five points ahead at the top of the WSL 2 table with eight games left. As the team march on to the end, Hills wants to keep the team grounded as they enter the final push.
“We take each game as it comes, we stay true to what we’re doing, we don’t look too far ahead.
“It becomes a little bit of a cliché, but that’s the nature of it, and if we keep on that track and we go back and work really hard - Durham’s a tough test next week, we know what they’re about - but it’s also an opportunity for us to carry on with that performance and that character that we’ve shown.
“I asked my players at the start of the game to be brave and play with courage today and they certainly did that and that’s what I expect to see next week again.”
Catch the action against Durham at The Valley on Sunday, February 15th (KO 12pm GMT).
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