Sophie Peskett and Natasha Thomas spoke to the press ahead of Town Women’s trip to Manchester City in the
Sophie Peskett and Natasha Thomas spoke to the press ahead of Town Women’s trip to Manchester City in the FA Cup (Image: Ross Halls)
Ipswich Town Women’s stars Natasha Thomas and Sophie Peskett know the Blues are going to have to be at the top of their game when they face giants Manchester City in the FA Cup tomorrow (1pm).
The pair are part of a team that has been unbeaten all season in the league, with Peskett scoring the winner in the last round against Bournemouth at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe.
But squaring off with WSL powerhouse City, a team two leagues above them and packed with superstars of the women’s game, is a totally different proposition.
Town last played the blue side of Manchester five years ago, in the same competition, when they lost 10-0. Both Peskett and Thomas featured in that game.
Peskett said: “As an individual I am just really excited to see how far I’ve come from the last time we played them and I’ve gone through a lot since then and grown as a player and as a person.
“I would have been 16 or 17 at the time. I’ve gone through a 14 month injury since then and had a lot of experiences. I’ve learnt loads tactically and played with a lot of players with more experience than me.
Sophie Peskett scored the winner in the last round against Bournemouth
Sophie Peskett scored the winner in the last round against Bournemouth (Image: Ross Halls)
“Seeing the growth I’ve made is the main thing for me that I’m really excited for. I can’t wait to soak everything up.”
Thomas added: “It’s exciting. We always want to make sure we’re playing against the best teams and Manchester City are that, so we know it’s going to be very competitive and we know we’re going to have to play our best game.
“It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be physical, so if we put ourselves out there and just show them what we’re about as well then we can be competitive.”
Thomas said: “It has been intense. But I also think that we do prepare the same no matter who we are playing whether it’s bottom of the league, top of the league or a WSL team.
“I think as individuals and as a whole, we will try and prepare the same and have the same mindset.”
This weekend will also see Thomas face off against her international teammate, prolific Jamaican forward Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
She said: “I am looking forward to coming up against her. We all know she’s a very good player so for me it’s just trying to see what I can do.
“Obviously we will be on opposite ends of the pitch but I believe in all we’ve got here and we’ll try and capitalise on that.”
Natasha Thomas and Sophie Peskett
Natasha Thomas and Sophie Peskett (Image: Ross Halls)
Town will also come up against Chloe Kelly, who famously scored England’s winner to lift the European Championships in 2021.
Peskett said: “We play for games like this. All of us want to play at the top level one day and we are aspiring to be in the position that Kelly and other Manchester City players are in.
“We will go there and soak everything in, learn as much as possible and just enjoy the occasion.
“I look at players like Kelly who I look up to. I’m going to be able to watch them in the flesh and see what I can do to improve so it will be useful coming up against them.”
The Town winger has had a great season so far, scoring 16 goals in 16 games and getting six assists, causing problems for opposing left-backs all campaign.
She said: “It will be a different challenge but I am looking forward to testing myself and seeing how far I’ve come.
“It will be very different to a lot of games this season. We normally set up to try and play out from the back and establish possession and Man City are the same, so it’s going to be difficult but we are really looking forward to it and it’s going to be tough but exciting.”
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