Bristol Academy midfielder Caroline Weir hopes the presence of England boss Mark Sampson in the stands for Saturday’s do-or-die clash with Birmingham City can inspire a positive result.
Just two points separate the bottom two sides in The FA Women’s Super League with BT Sport 1 and Bristol know defeat will leave them with an uphill chance of securing survival.
The Vixens suffered defeat to the same opponents in last weekend’s FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup tie but, with Sampson back in the city where England will play Bosnia & Herzegovina later this year, Weir hopes he will prove to be a lucky charm.
Bristol Academy v Birmingham City
FA Women's Super League with BT Sport 1
6.30pm, Saturday 5 September
Stoke Gifford Stadium
She said: “We’re confident we can get a good result in this one and that will hopefully put us in the place we want to be come the end of the season.
“It’s a home game for us and it’s maybe the biggest of the season, but we’ve approached it as we have done all our previous games.
“We mixed our team up a lot in the Cup game, as did Birmingham, so you can’t really tell what’s going to happen this weekend from that.
“It’s a big day for the club, and with Mark Sampson coming along as well we are hoping for as many supporters as possible to turn up and cheer us on.
“That will definitely help us during the game. It’s going to be an exciting build-up the whole week beforehand, and hopefully we get the win we need at the end of it.”
The corresponding WSL 1 fixture between the sides finished 0-0, but Birmingham will feel they hold the upper hand following the 2-0 win in the Conti Cup.
And defender Kerys Harrop is looking for her team to build on the confidence boost they gained last week to pull further clear of the foot of the table.
Birmingham defender Kerys Harrop
She said: “If we keep playing the way we have been playing this season we will take something from the game. We have not lost any games to them this season.
“We are confident in the ability of our team and have been playing well recently. If we stick to our tactics then hopefully it will pay off.
“As a defender, I focus on the defence of the game and if you do not concede in the game, then the attackers can focus on their job.
“Both teams made a few changes in the Cup, so changes will be made but we hope we can get the win as it is an important game for both sides.
“In particular, you have to be confident that you can stay up as one team will be relegated and we have that mindset within the team.
“You have got to always remain confident.”
