Wheeler: Ladies upped the intensity to put ten past QPR

Wheeler

Hannah Wheeler reckons West Ham United Ladies showed they could play at a much higher level of intensity after the side completed an incredible 10-0 win over QPR Ladies. 

A hat-trick from Kelly Wealthall, Two goals apiece for Amber Stobbs and Ellie Zoepfl, and finishes for Chantelle Mackie, Rosie Kmita and Andria Georgiou saw the Ladies earn their biggest league win of the season so far in Uxbridge. 

The Hammers impressed with their tenacity and relentless attack in the huge win, and Wheeler feels the victory was deserved given the level the Ladies hit during the match.

The centre-back told whufc.com: "Ten goals, three points, another clean-sheet. It's such a good feeling to keep this winning menality going. Everyone is on a high and we're playing really well. We've been working hard in training - we knew QPR wouldn't make it easy for us - but I think we just upped our intensity and absolutely got the result we deserved. 

We've been working hard in training - we knew QPR wouldn't make it easy for us - but I think we just upped our intensity and absolutely got the result we deserved.

Hannah Wheeler

"Obviously there's parts that could have been better, and we'll look at those this week, but we're really happy with how we've played."

Sunday's league fixture with Rangers came in the middle of two Cup finals for West Ham United Ladies. Karen Ray's side beat Charlton Athletic Women 2-1 in the Goodmove.co.uk Women's Cup final on Wednesday, and will contest the FA WPL Plate final against Luton next Sunday. 

Although the match with QPR was played in the centre of the 11 day period between the two finals, Wheeler is adamant that the focus was fully on defeating the Hoops, something that has been proven with the result.

"Wednesday, winning the Cup, beating Charlton - I don't think anything could have been better about that night," Wheeler continued: "And we know we've got another final next week, but we also knew that we had to put all that aside and fully concenrate on this match. 

Hannah Wheeler

"In order to play at our best and win next week, we first had to do the same today, and we deserved to win today. Everyone played really well."

The clean-sheet was West Ham's ninth in 11 matches since the start of 2018, a run that Wheeler has been a vital aspect of. The defender is thrilled with her own performances, but knows the competition is there if she doesn't continue her form.

She added: "I'm really happy with how I've been playing. Obviously there's a lot of pressure and I think there's a lot of competition as well. There are players on the bench who are working just as hard and deserve to be out on the pitch playing, so it's on me as an individual to keep lifting my game, bossing my performances. I'm happy with how I played today."