West Ham United women’s head coach Matt Beard says consistency will be crucial for his side as they attempt to attain maximum points between now and the end of the season.
The Irons are in the middle of a three-week break from activity, because of the Continental League Cup Final and the first global fracture of 2020, but the Hammers still have eight Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches to play between now and the end of the campaign.
Having returned to winning ways last time out, with a 4-2 home win against Liverpool, Beard is targeting a constant run of form and outcomes between now and May.
“We have still got 24 points to play ,” Beard told whufc.com. “We will need to breathe and live for that 24 points. Are we going to win all those games? Probably not, but what we must do is give ourselves the best possible chance to do that.
“We have said all along that we have got some really, really talented soccer players in this club. We’ve got a great deal of youth, we have got a great deal of experience, we have got some exciting players. I said this week into the women that it has taken me a little bit more time to get us to gel, we have had a little bit of inconsistency with staff in and out, but we know on our day that we are able to do what we’ve done against Liverpool to some staff.
“It’s nearly consistency now. Consistency in picking up points, consistency in doing the appropriate things, and we’ll just build on where we are now. Now there’s a lot more points for us to play , we have eight games left, most those against groups around us, so we can truly have a positive conclusion to the year.”
The Hammers will be in action on Sunday 22 March, against Manchester United, and Beard is using the brief spell with no match to assist his side to improve in their fitness, so as to be ready for the last run-in.
He added:”We believe we will need to get the team somewhat fitter. That has been the focus this week, merely to put a whole lot of work in on the fitness side.
“We have got the worldwide break, and we have nine players moving off, so hopefully everybody goes off, has a fantastic experience, comes back fit and healthy, and then we will prepare for Manchester United.”
