De Graaf Striving For A Repeat Performance

- LCFC Women tackle Aston Villa in the Barclays FA Women's Super League on Sunday (2pm kick-off)
- Pirelli Stadium is the venue for the second meeting between the sides this weekend
- Defender Esmee De Graaf is looking forward to having home support in Burton
- The defender says City can build on recent performances and results

A vital victory was secured at King Power Stadium last weekend, beating the south coast outfit 1-0 courtesy of Shannon O’Brien’s second-half strike – a second successive triumph and clean sheet on Filbert Way.

The result was a boost to City’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League survival hopes, moving them back off the bottom of the top-flight table and De Graaf revealed that it has provided a lift to the morale within the group.

“I think, after that game, it was a great feeling,” she told the media during Thursday’s pre-match press conference. “Three points again, we did something as a team. We’re all very happy and went back into training with good vibes really.

“Obviously we won so in training everyone is laughing and it’s very nice and a good feeling.”

Alongside an impressive display on the pitch, the home support from the Blue Army remains a key factor in assisting the team’s recent ascent, De Graaf believes. LCFC Women have the third highest average attendance in the WSL this term.

The 24-year-old continued: “Basically the whole atmosphere at the stadium, that does it for us, I think. All the fans in there, they keep us pushing and I think they pushed us over the line on Sunday.

“They are like the 12th player on the pitch. They help push us through the 90 minutes and they really helped us on Sunday I would say.”

The big games continue to come for Lydia Bedford’s side, as they tackle Carla Ward’s Aston Villa – who currently lie one place and four points above Leicester – at Pirelli Stadium in a 2pm kick-off on Sunday.

Whichever home venue they play at, the Dutch defender says it is crucial to maintain their momentum and make teams fear their trip to face the Foxes.

“I think it’s very important,” she added. “If other opponents are coming, to King Power Stadium especially, they must think it’s going to be a tough game because Leicester are doing well there. So, I think we need to make sure that we keep that going and make it hard for them to play on our pitch.

“I think what we have been doing so far and since Christmas and the Birmingham game, we are progressing every game and if we keep that going, we will definitely get a result out of Villa.”

Match tickets for the WSL encounter will be available to purchase on matchday from the ticket office at Pirelli Stadium.

All times GMT.