Ward warns Birmingham aces will go all out for a win against Aston Villa as rivals fight for WSL survival
CARLA WARD says there will be 'no sitting back' when Birmingham take on Aston Villa in the return of the Second City derby.
And the bullish Blues boss is expecting her charges to adopt the attack-minded approach that saw them crush Coventry United 5-1 in the Women’s FA Cup.
The Villans, in 11th, are currently just one spot below Birmingham in the WSL.
And with just two points separating bottom of the table Bristol from West Ham, Blues and Villa, Ward is looking for her side to pick up their first win in the top-flight since November 2020.
Ward. 37, said: “It’s a derby so we want to go out, get after them and win the game.
“There will be no sitting back, soaking it up and playing for a point. I don't understand how anyone goes out to play for a point.
“I think we were attack-minded in our previous league game which against Reading.
“Although they had more of the ball, we had far more chances.
"We created 17 opportunities, which is the most we've created all season.
“We were really pleased with that and we expect the same sort of mindset and game plan against Aston Villa.
“So we'll go out there and do the best we can and hopefully get three points.”
The last victory for Ward in the top-flight came against Villa two months before their January 2021 appointment of Marcus Bignot as interim manager.
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Since then, the Blues have picked up five draws and five defeats, with losses to Arsenal, Everton and Manchester City.
And the Villans, who have registered three wins and three draws so far this season, have won just once away from home with a 2-0 victory against Brighton.
Ward, who has been nominated for a Barclays Women’s Super League Manager of the Season gong, believes her Blues will be unaffected by points dropped in previous fixtures.
Ward added: “This is one where the pressure really is on Villa.
“They need three points and we need a point, but we will go out and try and get all of them.
“When we set out at the start of the season, we knew where we needed to pick up points.
“We know we would have liked to have picked up wins in a couple of our previous draws.
“But it is what it is and we still have an opportunity to get the point that we need.
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“I don't think it will be playing on the players’ mind because actually, this group’s mindset all season has been absolutely first-class.”
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