‘We will have a point to prove’ – Merricks wants Brighton to continue progress in Conti Cup tie | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion’s interim manager Amy Merricks wants her side to continue to show their progression in their FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup tie against London City Lionesses this afternoon.

The Seagulls face a tricky trip to Princes Park to face the Barclays Women’s Championship’s league leaders. London City Lionesses are unbeaten in three matches in 90 minutes against top tier sides in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup and The Pride will fancy themselves to cause another upset this afternoon.

Brighton & Hove Albion have taken four points from two league matches under the guidance of interim boss Merricks and while London City Lionesses will have a point to prove this afternoon, she wants her own side to show their recent progression.

“It’s going to be a tough game, London City are sitting top of their league,” Merricks said. “Melissa (Phillips) has done a fantastic job there and they are competing to come up and be promoted.

“They will certainly have a point to prove, we will have a point to prove in terms of performance again, building on what we are trying to achieve and trying to be consistent as much as we can.”

Merricks went on to highlight the competitiveness of the Barclays Women’s Championship. She believes that the gap between the top flight and the second tier is not as great as it once was.

She said “In my opinion, I think that league has progressed so much in the last few years and even in terms of the investment, the teams are more professional, they’re training more often which is naturally going to bridge that physical gap. Looking back to two or three years ago, that is probably the reason why the competition hasn’t already been there but now, when we go and play those teams, we know that it is going to be a fight, it’s still going to be a challenge.

“We want the cup competitions to be competitive so I think it is great. That gap will only get closer and closer for sure.”

Brighton & Hove Albion’s FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup fixture at London City Lionesses kicks-off at 12pm.