Sigsworth: We’ll Keep Getting Sharper

- LCFC Women’s WSL home debut ended in a 3-1 defeat by Manchester United at King Power Stadium
- Abbie McManus scored the Foxes’ goal, while another ex-United player Jess Sigsworth also made her home bow
- Forward Sigsworth commented on the ‘amazing atmosphere’ created by City’s supporters on Sunday
- She is confident in the team’s ability to start putting points on the board after the international break

Playing on Filbert Way for the first time, the forward came up against her former club, Manchester United, whose fans also travelled in numbers to create a near 4,500-strong crowd for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture.

Although the Red Devils came out on top, triumphing 3-1 thanks to goals from Ella Toone, Maria Thorisdóttir and Martha Thomas, there was plenty of encouragement from the stands which Sigsworth and her team-mates appreciated.

“It’s absolutely amazing to have over 4,000 people here today,” the 26-year-old told LCFC TV after the final whistle. “It was amazing atmosphere, and it was so nice to play in front of our home crowd.

“When we walked out, I got goosebumps, it was so nice, and they really do give you a boost when you’re playing.

“You do realise it, they just keep you going, keep pushing you and you want to play well in front of a big crowd and entertain them and you want them to keep coming back.”

Centre-back Abbie McManus scored the Foxes’ maiden home goal in the WSL and hopes of a potential comeback were lifted after confirmation that her header had crossed the line just after the hour mark.  

Sigsworth believes City, newly promoted into the division after winning the FA Women’s Championship last term, will improve at both ends of the pitch in order to start picking up points and climb the table, as they continue to adjust to the rigours of this division.

“It’s always disappointing not to win,” she continued. “I feel like for the first 60 minutes we did quite well, we just need to start being more clinical in front of the net and eliminating errors that cost us goals.

“It was disappointing to concede right after half-time to make it 2-0 but we always believed we could win so we kept pushing forward, we finally got the goal and then Mary [Earps] pulled off an amazing save when Molly [Pike] struck the ball.

“But even at 3-1, we believed and we kept pushing. We’ll never give up and we know we’re going to get opportunities so it’s just about keeping believing and keeping going.”

LCFC Women return to King Power Stadium to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 3 October (2pm kick-off) and the forward urged supporters to return in their numbers and make just as much noise when the north London outfit arrive at the start of next month.

Before then, however, a trip to West Ham United’s Chigwell Construction Stadium awaits on Sunday 26 September (3pm kick-off), City’s first game back after the international break.

The Doncaster-born attacker added: “I feel like we gave a good account of ourselves today and hopefully the fans will keep getting behind us. That’s the thing, we want to score more and more goals.

“Preparations start now for that game and it’s a game we truly believe we can win. We’ll keep pushing, keep getting better and hopefully the results will start coming soon.”

All times BST.