'A massive part of our season'

Leeds Carnegie LFC v Blackburn Rovers LFC
The FA Tesco Women's Premier League Cup
Third Round
2pm, Sunday 1 November 2009

You would be hard pressed to find a women's side more full of confidence than Leeds Carnegie Ladies, who lie second in the Women's Premier League by only an inferior goal difference to early leaders Chelsea.

With five wins from seven games so far this season, the visit of Blackburn Rovers Ladies on Sunday, in the Quarter Final of The FA Women's Premier League Cup, represents a real chance to bring silverware to Throstle Nest.

In 2007, they lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the final of the same competition and manager Rick Passmoor is confident his young side can build on their strong start to the campaign and go one better this time.

"It's nice for the fans to see us near the top and we're very optimistic that we'll be right up there at the end of the season, fighting Everton and Arsenal," he said.

"It would be great to get some silverware and at the moment we're looking strong."

Leeds have only lost one league game from seven this term, but Passmoor is worried about his side's poor record against Blackburn in recent years.

"Blackburn are one of our bogey teams and we're wary of their threat," he explained. "The cups are very important to us because when you only have 22 league games it can make up a massive part of your season."

Passmoor can call on the likes of seasoned England international Sue Smith and he believes the club's mix of youth and experience will reap results in the coming years.

"Maybe this year will be a bit too early for us but we have a three to five year plan and some excellent 19-year-olds who are going to start really fulfilling their potential," he added.