READING FC WOMEN’s manager Kelly Chambers was quick to praise the impact of substitute Emma Harries who scored twice in the Royals’ draw with Brighton.
Reading found themselves two goals down inside 13 minutes, but a second-half cameo from Harries helped to recover a point after she scored a brace.
“We didn’t play well at all in the first-half and gifted easy goals which we talked about in the week that we needed to defend and deal with the ball. We didn’t do that on two occasions.
“We changed shape in the second-half and were more front footed and aggressive which I asked for in the first-half, but they turned it around and it’s better to take a point from this game than nothing.
“We made the decision to change shape at half-time because we felt we needed to, to get more bodies up the pitch.
“Fair play to Emma Harries, she’s only trained twice this week and has come on and made a massive impact, so good for her.
“The change of shape helped us be more aggressive so fair play to the girls because they could have collapsed at half-time, but they showed real character to get back in the game.
“It was huge (to get the goal quickly after the restart). Emma Harries had a massive impact. She did some finishing yesterday so we’re hoping that is something that has helped her.
“We need those players that are set on the bench to come on and finish games and that’s what Emma did today. She came on and got us a point.”
Chambers was disappointed in her team’s first-half display which saw them go into half-time two goals down, but was pleased with the way they responded.
She continued: “I need players to make sure they are executing game plans and we didn’t do that in the first-half so we need to make sure that is nailed going into next week.
“I said to the girls we can’t afford to carry, we need everyone at it and I’ll need the same this week going into Leicester.
“I won’t relay exactly what I said (at half-time). For me, it was either we can lay down and take it or stand up and be counted for and show up and get something out of the game.
“There was no point in us sitting back, we were losing the game so had nothing to lose going out in the second-half.
“It’s another point on the board for us and another point further away from them (Leicester).
“Of course it would have been nice to have taken three but we go into another week.”
