Bristol City’s Women’s “key priority” for the second half of the season is to pick up more points against the teams in and around them in the table, Charlotte Healy has explained, starting with this weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
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The Robins return from their winter break with a trip to the City Ground this weekend, where they will face Forest on Sunday afternoon. It has been more than three weeks since the Reds were last in action, as they headed into the festive period with a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
City’s dropped points against the Eagles ensured that Healy’s side spent Christmas third in the WSL 2, three points adrift of Birmingham City and the automatic promotion places, but three clear of this weekend’s opponents, sixth-placed Forest.
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With the league season now at its halfway point, the Robins will be aiming to secure one of the two promotion spots between now and the first week of May.
Although the make-up of the table matters very little at this point, Healy is keen to see her side improve from here on in, starting against Carly Davies’ side on Sunday.
“The table changes quite frequently in this league,” the City boss said during Friday’s pre-match press conference. “The results are pretty hard to predict, I think, but ultimately, we know where we want to be, and of course, you have your glances at the table.
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“I think the top six is pretty tight and I’m sure there’ll be a few surprises between now and the end of the season, but ultimately it’s where we are in the table in May. That’s what matters to me, and we know that we have to pick up more points from the teams around us; we didn’t do that well enough in the first half of the season, in my opinion, so that’s a key priority for us.
“Forest are a team that are in and around us, so we have to make sure that we give everything we’ve got at the weekend to get three points.”
The Robins will be making the trip to the Midlands with a fully fit squad; however, the opening weeks of the transfer window have seen the make-up of Healy’s ranks altered slightly. Loanees Olivia Johnson, Naomi Williams, and Jess Ziu have all returned to their parent clubs during the winter break.
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Movement around Ashton Gate hasn’t just been limited to outgoings, though. On Thursday evening, City confirmed the signing of England international Katie Robinson from Aston Villa, with the five-time Lioness putting pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal in the West Country.
Whether or not the 23-year-old will be thrust straight into the team to make what will be her second Reds debut won’t be clear until Sunday, but Healy has confirmed her latest addition will be part of the side that travels to the County Ground.
“She’s available,” the head coach told Bristol Live. “She’s been with us week, and we train again today and tomorrow.
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“She’ll be available for selection, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do with us.
“I’m really delighted to have her back with us,” Healy added. “I had some really good conversations with her over the break, so delighted she’s chosen to join us and looking forward to seeing what she can add to the group.
“She’s had really good experience domestically and internationally over the last couple of years. To play in the WSL and to be part of the Arnold Clark Cup squad with England. She won the Finalissima, [has] been in the World Cup squad, a huge amount of pedigree for still such a young player, so delighted that we can attract her back to Bristol City.
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“I know she is desperate to hit the ground running and help us in the second half of the season.”
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