WOMEN'S TEAM

Magill On Everton’s ‘Sole Focus’

Blues forward Simone Magill has said the Everton Women squad won’t settle for anything less than maximum points when Aston Villa make the journey to Walton Hall Park this weekend.

The Toffees were left frustrated after last weekend’s result against Reading when the visitors scored twice in the second half to deny the hosts a deserved point in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

The 27-year-old is hungry to rectify that this weekend.

“After the disappointment of last weekend’s result, we’re all keen to play another game straight away,” the striker said.

“It’s an opportunity for us to take our frustrations from Reading and use it as motivation to get a result this weekend.

“Ultimately, our main focus is a win and three points.

“Now, it’s just about putting the work in on the training ground to pick up those points come Sunday.

“More than anything, this match is important for morale.

“We’ve gone through a lot recently and we just want to get back on track.

“Especially with the international break coming up, none of us want to go into that without the feeling of picking up three points.

“That’s our sole focus. We’re not going to settle for anything less than that.”

The beginning of February has brought around a lot of change for the squad, following a change of management in the lead up to Reading last week.

Magill praised the professionalism of interim managers Chris Roberts and Claire Ditchburn in stepping in and preparing the team.

The Northern Ireland international outlined the squad’s desire to repay that gratitude by getting the team back on track with results on the park.

“It’s football. A lot happens, a lot can change,” she added.

“It’s something that we’re all trying to adapt and get used to.

“We’re all comfortable with them [Roberts and Ditchburn], we know what they bring to training.

“It’s now about getting together as a group and trying to get back to where we want to be and that comes by winning games of football.

“With Chris and Claire’s experience at this football club, with the players and their experience within this league, that is something that will develop as the games and weeks go on.

“We’ve worked with them for quite some time, and I don’t think it’s just about doing it for ourselves, it’s doing it for them and our backroom staff as well.

“The results will come; we just need to trust the process, but I definitely feel that we’re back on the right path.

“Now it’s just about getting the results to match that.

“Our next target is to start winning football games again and everything else will sort itself out.”

The Blues led for a majority of last weekend’s encounter against Reading, before two second-half goals have the away side victory.

Magill says the squad must work on their game management to see results out – and believes that will come with more experience.

“We had the means to go on and win the game on Saturday,” she added.

“In the first half we were excellent, we looked so refreshed and were doing the right things.

“It’s just that tiny bit of game management that allowed the match to slip away from us.

“However, in terms of improvement and the feeling amongst the group, it’s definitely getting back on track.

“It’s about knowing the league as well – for a lot of players in our squad, this is their first experience of playing in England.

“It’s about recognising when to settle the game down and get the team up the park.

“It’s just those little details that we need to add to our game when we are leading.

“That will come, though, as the girls in our squad grow more familiar with the league. It will be something that will naturally improve.

“We’ve got to build on that now and take our frustrations out on Villa this weekend.”

There are a handful of former Everton players who could feature against the Blues at Walton Hall Park this weekend, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Alisha Lehmann and Jill Scott all part of the Villa squad.

Magill says the Toffees will have to be at their best to nullify the threats they will pose.

“No matter the opponent, we expect it to be tough and a hard fight,” she explained.

“There are a few players in their squad who we are familiar with and, naturally, when you play against your former club, you want to prove a point.

“We expect that and are ready for it, so we have to be on the top of our game.

“Hopefully we get the supporters behind us and get the job done.”