Bedford: It’s A Fantastic Feeling

- LCFC Women’s second win of the campaign arrived against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday
- The Foxes’ 1-0 triumph at King Power Stadium came courtesy of Shannon O’Brien’s goal
- Lydia Bedford was delighted after a perfect afternoon which also included another home shutout
- City have moved off the bottom of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League standings

Meeting the Seagulls for the second time this season, it was again just one second half goal that settled it, but this time in the Foxes’ favour as Shannon O’Brien’s cool finish from a Jess Sigsworth cutback proved to be enough to separate the teams on Sunday afternoon.

Describing her emotions following the hard-fought victory at King Power Stadium, Bedford expressed elation at being able to pick up another crucial three points on home soil, building on victory over Birmingham City in December.

“It’s pure relief,” she told LCFC TV in her post-match interview. “I said to the girls at the end, I’m so proud of what they put in across those 90 minutes and it was a fantastic feeling after last Sunday.

“In the last 15 minutes we had to have a bit of game management to see out the game and put bodies on the line, players in and around our box just filling those spaces and trying to get rid of any crosses that were coming our way.

“There were some great performances in that last 15 minutes and some great performances from them. It was a fantastic finish; it was one touch. There was space in behind to exploit and I think our space and directness did that. I think that’s something we can build on.

“A clean sheet, and a goal, three points – it doesn’t get any better than that, does it?”

Although it was their first triumph of 2022, the win marked a second successive home league victory and back-to-back home clean sheets for the first time, a sign of the progress made under Bedford’s stewardship.

Leicester also moved off the bottom of the WSL table and are now just four points behind Aston Villa heading into an encounter with the Villans at Pirelli Stadium this weekend. The manager, meanwhile, credited the Blue Army’s backing on Filbert Way as crucial to the successes.

“I feel very welcome here,” she continued. “It’s a fantastic stadium and I think it gives us the absolute edge on whoever is coming here. The crowd behind us were absolutely tremendous. This week, unlike the Birmingham game, I could actually really take it in.

“I think the first game I kind of blanked it out because I was so focused on the game, but today I could hear them every time there was a moment we needed their support, the clappers were going, and it was great.

“It doesn’t change too much. We’re off the bottom of the table again. Hopefully I don’t have to say that too many more times this season. I think the confidence will definitely be a big factor for the girls.

“With the Birmingham game before Christmas, we had the break, we were then hit by COVID, so there were quite a lot of factors before we went into the Reading game last week. But hopefully if we can keep the momentum from this week into next, we’ll be in a good space.”

The former England youth coach handed loanee Freya Gregory her first start and a home debut, while also bringing fellow January signing Missy Goodwin into the game during the second period.

She was pleased with both players’ first contributions on the pitch and the competition for places that they have created, especially as more of the squad return to full fitness.

Bedford added: “I’m really proud of them and I think the nice problem I’ve got right now is picking a starting XI is difficult and when I walked through the door, I’m not sure that was so difficult.

“That competition is so key and hopefully the girls continue to push each other in training so we can pick a really competitive team for every game. Both Siggy (Jess Sigsworth) and Tash [Flint] were fully available for today’s game.

“If anything, Freya and Shannon [O’Brien’s] performances last week kept them both from starting. That’s where the competition is really key. Out of that front line, you’ve got a lot of good players to choose from now, which is great.”