Crystal Palace boss Jo Potter admitted the 4-4 WSL2 draw against Southampton last weekend was “weird” – and said that next opponents Nottingham Forest will be another tough obstacle.
Abbie Larkin scored twice and Justine Vanhaevermaet and Ashleigh Weerden added one apiece to take a point at home from the Saints.
“It was a weird one really, because we were happy that we scored four really good goals, but we weren’t happy with the goals that we conceded,” Potter told the club’s official website, reflecting on a topsy-turvy afternoon.
“We need to be a little bit more difficult for teams to play against. For some of the chances that they had, it was difficult to see us conceding four goals.
“But I thought there was an improvement in our play from the week before, which is really important. We’ve got to keep pushing. We’ve got to keep looking forward. We’re trying to get the team to play a new way and buy into that, and they’re doing it.”
Jo Potter: Crystal Palace must concentrate on ourselves
Palace travel to the City Ground to play Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Forest are newcomers to WSL2 after winning the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division last season – going undefeated throughout the campaign – and Potter thinks that confidence and their strong infrastructure is shining through already.
“They haven’t conducted themselves like a newly-promoted team this season,” she said. “I think it’s really important that you see the amount of backing that they’ve had. They’ve really gone after it.
“I’d put them in the bracket of Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Sunderland, Durham. There are big teams in this league that can really push and kick on for this promotion this year.”
Forest narrowly lost 2-1 to Newcastle United on the first day of the season, and edged a 1-0 win against Ipswich Town on the second. Their squad includes plenty of seasoned professionals with international credentials, including Wales’ Rachel Rowe, Scotland’s Amy Rodgers and Ireland’s Chloe Mustaki – and Potter says that head coach Carly Davies is creating a fine system and playing style for her group.
“They’ve got a very good coach in Carly,” she praised. “I’ve known her for many, many years – really good style of playing football, wants to play, the team wants to play.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re looking at them and what they can do to us. But, as ever, we’ll be concentrating on ourselves.”
