Karen Ray has praised the ‘winning mentality’ of her West Ham United Ladies with her side set for their third match this week, against Crystal Palace.
The Hammers return to action against the Eagles on Sunday having claimed a place in the Isthmian League Cup final on Wednesday with a 4-0 win at Whyteleafe, and also a 6-2 victory away to Cardiff City last weekend.
It means the Ladies will play their third match in seven days and, having won the previous two, Ray has been delighted with the commitment she has seen from her squad.
“Three games in seven days is a really big ask, but the staff have done a fantastic job in preparing the players both physically and mentally,” Ray told whufc.com. “Our focus now returns to the league where we face a very strong Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“We have to concentrate on each game and prepare the players as best we can for the upcoming challenges. The girls committed to five days this week and I commend each and every one of them for showing a winning mentality and a desire to make a purposeful contribution to the Club."
The girls committed to five days this week and I commend each and every one of them for showing a winning mentality and a desire to make a purposeful contribution to the Club
Karen Ray
Palace will present a tough test for the Hammers with the Eagles sat second in the Women’s Premier League Southern Division.
The Hammers have been bested twice already by Sunday’s opponents, in league and Cup competitions, but a good run of form puts West Ham in a strong position heading into the match.
Ray believes Wednesday’s Cup semi-final win came from a conscious increase in effort from her players, and is eager to see that level of commitment again this weekend.
The interim head coach and General Manager also took the chance to praise the girls for reaching the Isthmian Cup final, adding: “The girls have shown an admirable push to this half of the season, they have played a lot of games in a short amount of time but haven’t wavered in their effort. As a coach, you can’t ask for much more than that.
“Making a final is always a special feeling, and everyone at the club deserves it. At Christmas, I told the girls we needed to park the past and create ownership, accountability and trust in order for us to start seeing the results we deserve. Making a final is a proud moment.”