City Ladies bosss Chris Holloway says weekend win over Charlton could be perfect if they beat Barnet
Coventry City boss Chris Holloway has warned his players that victory against Charlton Athletic at the weekend will only be ‘perfect’, if they follow it up with another triumph against Barnet this Sunday.The Sky Blues gained their first league victory of 2013 with a hard fought 1-0 win over the Addicks, courtesy of Natasha Lynch’s first-half goal at Thamesmead.
Holloway praised the effort and resilience of the performance, but admitted that they need to take their momentum into Sunday’s clash with bottom-placed Barnet at the Bedworth Oval.
"I thought in the first-half we played very well and should have been two or three goals in front at half-time," Holloway said.
"We got into good areas and showed intelligent build-up play, and the players deserve a lot of credit with the way they have stuck in there together, worked hard and stayed focused on the task in hand.
"Hopefully this will kickstart a good run until the end of the season, and although we play teams around us, we are aware it’s going to be a tough run-in. This victory will only be perfect if we build on it with a back-to-back wins against Barnet."
Constant fixture changes and postponements have played havoc with Coventry’s schedule this season, meaning the victory over Charlton was only the fifth league game they have played since November.
Despite completing the double over Charlton this season, it wasn’t enough to lift them from eighth place in the league table. However it does cut the gap to just one point behind Cardiff City, whilst only goal difference now separates the Sky Blues and the Londoners.
As well as the home fixture with Barnet, Coventry also take on the Bluebirds and Aston Villa in the coming weeks, before defending their Birmingham FA County Cup trophy against Sporting Club Albion in May.
Holloway also reserved praise for Brazilian midfielder Maria de Campos, who made her debut from the bench, replacing fellow new signing Laura McQuilkin with 20 minutes remaining.
"Mafi handled it well on Sunday. She has a great attitude and seems to have settled in with the squad. She speaks English quite well but understanding it can prove difficult sometimes from a distance. We hope with each week she grows more confident and gets up to match speed."
The Sky Blues host Barnet on Sunday, knowing victory could lift them as high as sixth in the FA Women’s Premier League table.
The fixture takes place at the Bedworth Oval, and will kick off at 2pm.