Caley Thistle Women manager Karen Mason wants to see a response from her players against Rossvale on Sunday after their defeat to Ayr United last week.
The Caley Jags boss did not hold back about the 3-0 home defeat to Ayr as she described it as their “worst performance” of the SWF Championship season.
Inverness host Rossvale, who sit second in the league, on Sunday where Mason has called for an “immediate” reaction from her players.
Mason said: “I wasn’t shy in holding back after the Ayr game and it was no surprise to the girls because honestly it was our worst performance of the season.
“We’re at the stage where confidence just seems to be low. I don’t know if it was the defeat to Livingston that knocked it – I’m not so sure.
“It was just awful last week against Ayr, so we are looking for that immediate response and reaction against Rossvale this weekend.”
We are at home again on Sunday when we welcome back Rossvale WFC to Millburn Academy. Support would be much appreciated! pic.twitter.com/itAZEV6XQP
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle WFC (@ICTWFC) November 22, 2022
Inverness sit fourth in the Championship on 14 points – nine behind Renfrew in third and 11 points behind this weekend’s opponents.
Mason added: “As much as it is still early days, that gap between us and the top three is quite some distance, so we’re further away from them now.
“We’ve got to just try and take each game as it comes and put in performances that we can be proud of – so hopefully we can do that against Rossvale.”
Working together as a unit
Mason believes that her side will need to work better together as a unit if they’re to be in with a chance of picking up three points against Rossvale.
She wants to see an improvement in the levels of effort from some of her players to ensure a good team performance.
Mason added: “I want everybody to give 100% for the full game, playing the style that we’re looking to see, being hard to score against and taking our chances.
“It’s about working as a unit and I think that’s what we’ve been missing over the last wee while. We’ve had some individuals playing out their skin and others tagging along.
“We need absolutely everybody to be firing on all cylinders if we’re to have a good team performance.”
FIXTURES | WEEK 1️⃣5️⃣
We've come full circle in the #SWFChampionship, with a replay of the fixtures from the opening day, albeit with all clubs having some postponements to catch up on.
What are your predictions for GW15? #BeTheDifference pic.twitter.com/piMFpKV0AA
— SWF Championship (@SWFChampionship) November 23, 2022
To create a stronger unit on the pitch, the Caley Thistle boss will bring players up from the under-18s team for her match-day squad against Rossvale.
Mason said: “We’ll take a couple of the under-18s up for the game just to increase our numbers and maybe give some of the other players a bit of a reality check.
“If those girls who are 16 or 17 are willing to come in and give their all then they’ll get their chance – and it’ll show the others what needs to be done to play in this team.”
SWF League One fixtures
In SWF League One, Grampian Ladies will be looking to win their fourth consecutive game when they host Giffnock SC Women at Banks o’ Dee’s Spain Park.
Meanwhile, Westdyke will be looking to return to winning ways when they play Airdrie at home, having lost their last two games against St Mirren and FC Edinburgh.
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