Kirk orders Foxes to clip Robins' wings in 'must-win' WSL clash

Willie Kirk believes Leicester's Women's Super League clash against Bristol City on Sunday is a "must-win game". 

The opening day of the season saw the Foxes emerge as 4-2 winners against the newly-promoted Robins, who are now firmly rooted to the bottom of the league.

Leicester were relegation candidates last season and are currently in the heady heights of seventh in the table — but Kirk insists it is still a vital match. 

The Foxes boss, 45, said: "We know what that feels like, being in that position last year, and this will be one of the games I'm sure they've targeted to get points from.

"It's a must-win game for both teams. 

"We should win and we said that in the huddle at the end of the Birmingham [FA Cup] game. 

"I know the players have always responded well to pressure when we've put it on them. I don't think it's healthy to put pressure like that on them every week but this is a week where we have. 

"We should be winning this game if we perform and that's no disrespect to Bristol. It's purely because I think, player for player, we've got a better team."

Foxes defender Sophie Howard is relishing the challenge of trying to make it back-to-back victories after last weekend's 6-2 success over Birmingham.

Speaking to the club's official website, Howard, 30 said: "It was a dominant win, which is very good for morale. 

"We know we could've performed better but the main thing is getting through to the next round.

"Last season was mentally draining and quite brutal up until Christmas, so we're happy to not be in that position again. 

"I think it's a positive that we've been in that situation — we can put ourselves into Bristol City's shoes. We know they'll come out and fight. 

"But like Willie keeps telling us, we're looking at what is ahead of us and not behind. 

"We work hard every day so that we can put the performance in to get the win."