Women’s Super League

BATTLING Covid on the health service frontline while competing in the Women’s Super League has become part and parcel of Harriet Scott’s life over the past year.
And the tough-tackling Birmingham City heroine who is due to play Aston Villa is proud of her contrasting careers. 

Harriet Scott juggles a career as a top-flight footballer with working in the NHS and studying a degree in medicineCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Scott and her team-mates are due to play Aston VillaCredit: Rex Features

When she is not training or leading the backline of Carla Ward’s tenacious Blues, Scott can often be found assisting doctors and nurses at Royal Stoke University Hospital. 
And it’s a vocation the left-back relishes despite the pressures of tackling the deadly virus in one of the nation’s largest hospitals.
Scott, 27, said: “I’ve worked within the NHS since I qualified as a physiotherapist (in 2014) and the strain that some people are under at this point in time is immense. 
“I have seen unwell patients dealing with issues around their mental health especially now with Covid. People have a lot more stress because it’s a very difficult time. 

“It’s admirable how staff are working and taking every single day as it comes.
“At the moment, it feels like there’s no way out. But I know that there is with the vaccine and the help that will hopefully bring in the next few months. 
“It’s tough seeing what staff and patients are having to go through
“But I’m really glad I’m doing the job I’m doing at the moment.” 

JUGGLING FOOTBALL AND A MEDICINE DEGREE
It is a hectic routine for Scott, 27, who balances her football and healthcare career with the third year of a degree in medicine at Keele University.
The former Reading ace, who has made 36 appearances for Birmingham since joining from the Royals in 2018, has been working at the Royal Stoke since August 2020. 
The defender, who jointly captains Birmingham with Christie Murray, has been helping to ease the burden on staff working in the hospital’s emergency, surgery and mental healthcare wings.
Part of the Republic of Ireland ace’s duties includes checking heart rhythms, taking blood tests and helping medics insert intravenous drips into patients in need of them.
And Scott’s vital role outside of sport is wholeheartedly supported by Birmingham gaffer Ward and her backroom staff.  
Scott added: “I really could not praise the club anymore for kind of being able to do what I’m doing right now. Blues have been instrumental.
“After a game on Sunday, I normally have a tutor session on Monday at nine in the morning where I join other medical students in a hospital ward or on an online class.

Scott, 27, is a certified physiotherapist who worked for Wales national women’s team under former head coach Jayne LudlowCredit: Instagram @harrietascott
“We all bring cases that we have studied and talk through them and figure out diagnosis and treatments and then I may have a seminar on medicines or body parts. 
“In the afternoon, I will spend one till five in the hospital and that repeats throughout the week. 
“And then I have to fit my football training sessions around this. 
“So I’ll do strength and conditioning sessions on my own at Birmingham that Holly – our coach there – or Carla (Ward) will help me out with. 
“And then there are certain sessions throughout the week that I can make with the rest of the team.” 

Birmingham City are looking to pick up their fourth win in the WSL
DERBY DUEL
Scott is set to captain Birmingham this evening in a Second City derby clash with Villa.
The duel between the rivals, which coincides with the talented defender’s birthday, will take place at Damson Park. 
The last match between the teams ended in a 1-0 win for the then injury-ravaged Blues who had just TWO subs on their bench. 
Despite the victory, head coach Ward, 37, was not entirely pleased with her ninth-placed side’s display.
Ward said: “We were very, very poor. It was our worst performance of the season. But I am delighted we came away with a win after playing so poorly. 
“I would like to think we have come on since then, however I do think Villa have come on since then. 
“It will be a tough game. The pressure is on them, not us.”
Scott, who has 21 Republic of Ireland international caps, is looking forward to pitting her wits against Mana Iwabuchi. 
The Japan superstar has been in fine form for Villa, who are tenth, since arriving in January.
The mercurial Villa forward netted the decisive goal that secured the club’s first home win this term.
Scott added: “They’ve (Aston Villa) have strengthened as a team. Iwabuchi is a phenomenal player.
“We’ve kind of seen already the impact that she’s had in the league. We’re not underestimating her at all. 
“But we’re not going to give her too much respect. 
“At the end of the day, it’s a derby, and that’s a completely different game altogether.
There’s a bit more bite to everybody. And we’ll see that going into the game, I’m sure.” 

Scott says Birmingham will not underestimate Mana IwabuchiCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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HOPE POWELL has stressed that Brighton can’t expect an easy ride against West Ham despite their amazing victory over Chelsea.
Powell, 54, said that although her side are the first to beat the champions in two years, every game is different and the Hammers game will be “tough.”

Hope Powell has warned her Brighton stars that victory against West Ham isn’t a foregone conclusionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Brighton shocked the footballing world by ending the West Londoner’s 33 unbeaten game run in the WSL after previously losing to Bristol.
Powell was asked how she managed to galvanise her players into their stellar performance against the Blues.
She said that she met with the team after the Bristol City loss and said they had some “frank and honest conversations,” and said it was imperative they “went back to basics.”
Powell said: “This is how it’s going to be from now on. Yeah just back to basics. We need a 100 per cent effort.

“I wanted a good performance. I wanted some desire and effort and application, and I got all of those things.
“And with a little bit of luck, we win the game and get three massive points, it was a big win for us.”
But she warned her stars ahead of the midweek clash that a win over the Hammers isn’t a “foregone conclusion” despite their 2-1 Chelsea win.
The former England boss said: “We take confidence from last week,

“But we cannot think for one minute the fact that we beat Chelsea, [beating West Ham] is a foregone conclusion, that’s just not the way football is.
“And you know, we can see that by all recent results whether it’s women’s football or men’s football, it’s no foregone conclusion.”
The Hammers enter the game languishing just above the bottom spot, while Brighton hover slightly above them in eighth.
Acutely aware of their struggle, Powell compared the two team’s upcoming battle to a “dogfight” and said it will be a “hard contest” for the Seagulls.

Brighton became the first team to beat champions Chelsea in TWO YEARS on the weekendCredit: PA:Press Association

She continued: “It will be a hard contest, it will be a dog fight. Both teams want the points, both teams not wanting to lose.
“You know, at the moment, we’re in a better position than they are. So you know, for them they’ve got to get points on the board as we have to as well.”
To make the pre-game preparations even more difficult, both sides are having to train in the heavy snow, which Powell says has been “terrible.”
When asked about the weather, she said: “It’s terrible, freezing cold, we weren’t able to train on grass we had to end up going on rubber crumb, which isn’t ideal preparation.
“But it’s the same for everybody. I’m sure it will be the same for West Ham, London is pretty bad.”
She also said that there were some concerns the game could be called off due to the treacherous weather, but the Seagulls were still preparing.
Powell added: “We’ll just prepare as if though were gonna play.
“We do appreciate that it can be called off at any time. But we are preparing as if though we’re gonna play the game.”

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THE WSL title race has been blown open spectacularly after Brighton inflicted Chelsea’s first league defeat in over TWO YEARS. 
Sam Kerr gave the champs an early lead after nodding home on five minutes, after she was left unmarked at the far post at Kingsmeadow.

Chelsea stopper Carly Telford palmed Megan Connolly’s corner into her own net to give Brighton an 80th minute winnerCredit: PA:Press Association

Republic of Ireland midfielder Megan Connolly celebrates Brighton’s stunning upset win over Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.Credit: PA:Press Association

Aileen Whelan nods Brighton’s leveller past home keeper Carly Telford to spark a shock defeat for WSL leaders ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But just three minutes later Aileen Whelan got the Seagulls back in it after rising highest to head in Inessa Kaagman’s inch-perfect corner. 
Bethany England rattled the crossbar from 12 yards before the break, and Sophie Ingle saw a header cleared off the line – but they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Against the run of play, Blues stopper Carly Telford shirked her duties and palmed Megan Connolly’s corner into her own net to make it 2-1 with ten minutes left to play. 
The shock result ended the West Londoner’s incredible record of 33 matches unbeaten in the league.

It also left them level on 32 points with second place Manchester United, who have played one more game.
The Seagulls had just three shots on goal compared to Chelsea’s staggering 30, while also managing just 24 percent possession to the Blues’ 76.
Boss Emma Hayes said: “Of course I’m disappointed to lose the game.
“I think the Manchester United result today and our result serves as a reminder that if you’re not on it in this league then you can be turned over.”

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Brighton chief Hope Powell said: “I’m really, really delighted – I’m sure it’ll sink in later. It’s a big win for us today.”
Reading dealt United their first home defeat in over a YEAR.
The opener came after Emma Mitchell’s corner was flicked on by Amalie Eikeland with Natasha Harding pouncing at the back post to nod in from a yard on 62 minutes. 
Just two minutes later, ex-Arsenal ace Danielle Carter made it 2-0 after breaking free to nod in another pristine delivery from Mitchell. 
A win would have seen the Red Devils go top. 
United boss Casey Stoney, said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. I think we weren’t at our levels today. 
“We defended two set pieces really poorly and it ended up costing us. 

Hope Powell was ‘delighted’ at her Brighton side’s ‘big win’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Brighton celebrate a victory that has shaken up the WSL title fightCredit: PA:Press Association
“If you want to go for titles and stay in and around the top three you’ve got to defend better in those pivotal moments. 
“Man City next becomes a must win now in terms of staying in and around that top three. We need to get that right.”
Royals chief Kelly Chambers said: “It was a great goal from Danielle [Carter] and it was great to be able to have her on the pitch to contribute today.”
Jamie-Lee Napier nabbed Birmingham a vital point – and dented Everton’s hopes of a Champions League spot. 
Danielle Turner put the Toffees ahead after sending a delicious free kick, dipping and curling into the bottom corner on 22 minutes.
Tinja-Riikka Korpela saved Claudia Walker’s limp penalty – awarded for handball – but Napier poked in the rebound for the equaliser. 
A run of just one win in eight WSL matches has left Everton trailing third place and a spot in Europe by 12 points now. 
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HOPE POWELL backed Emma Hayes’ response to AFC Wimbledon rumours after the Chelsea boss shut down speculation linking her with the Dons.
And the Brighton chief wants her players to give the Blues a run for their money in their clash with the champs.

Hope Powell and Brighton are due to take on Chelsea in the WSLCredit: Rex Features

Powell, 54, was speaking ahead of Albion’s trip to the league leaders’ turf with her team looking to bounce back from four losses in their last six games. 
And the Seagulls boss said reports of Hayes being eyed as a potential Dons manager brought back memories of a similar situation she faced in 2009 during her England tenure. 
The former Lionesses head coach was thought to be in the frame for the gaffer’s job at Grimsby Town following Mike Newell’s exit from the League Two outfit.   
Powell said: “I’m really pleased with Emma’s response. Years ago, I was in exactly the same position. 

“There was this whole thing around Grimsby and me going to be the manager of Grimsby as if I was going to give up the England job.
“No disrespect to Grimsby, but why would I do that?
“I think the assumption is regardless of the level of men’s football, the assumption is it’s better than the level of women’s football, which is absolute nonsense. 
“She (Emma) is arguably with one of the best clubs in the world, let alone our league. 

“She is very, very successful, still has an appetite to do well there and is working with some of the greatest players in the world.”
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Powell backs Emma Hayes view that she has ‘the best job in the world’ at ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association

Brighton, who signed Finland full-back Emma Koivisto, hope to put distance between themselves and the drop zone. 
And Seagulls centre-back Victoria Williams says the team have had frank conversations following their loss to Bristol City. 
Williams, 30, said: “We have a great team spirit and I think we just let ourselves down as individuals.
“When we think about our identity we’re hard to break down and teams know that and it just seemed to come unstuck last Saturday. 
“The players had a meeting and a reset to remind ourselves that while we have had a couple of bad results, we haven’t become a bad team overnight.”
Powell added: “If everybody has desire, appetite, effort and application, we’ll give ourselves a chance against Chelsea.

Brighton are looking to improve their league form following four defeats from their last six gamesCredit: Alamy Live News
“We lost 1-0 last time but I thought we played well and we managed to get a point from them historically.”
Chelsea, level on points with Man United, are looking to extend their record-breaking league run to 34 games unbeaten. 
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