Charlton Athletic Women’s boss Riteesh Mishra on Valley fixture tomorrow against Aston Villa

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

It might be an international break this weekend, but those who want their Charlton Athletic fix at The Valley can still get it tomorrow.

The Addicks’ women’s team is in action at 3pm on Saturday as they host high-flying Aston Villa in SE7.

And Charlton manager Riteesh Mishra will be hoping those home comforts can help his side secure a first victory of the season in the FA Women’s Championship.

The South London club were in the mix for a top-two finish in the previous campaign but narrowly missed out to Tottenham Hotspur.

It has been a summer of change for the Addicks with a number of departures which included prolific striker Kit Graham, signed by Spurs, and player of the season Liz Ejupi, who moved to the newly-formed London City Lionesses.

“We’ve had a frustrating start – we haven’t picked up the points we deserve from our performances,” said Mishra.

“It’s been a bit stop-start in terms of fixtures, we’ve had one already postponed and we were the free team in the first week of games. We’ve played less games than anyone else.

“But the big thing is that it is such a new squad. One of the downsides to doing so well last season is that our players attracted a lot of attention from clubs in the top tier and those who could pay more than we can and also offer a few things that we can’t.

“We’ve had a big turnaround in players. It’s going to take a little while for the ones we’ve got to settle in and understand what we’re asking them to do.

“Aston Villa have got a very strong squad. Saturday is going to be tough, on a big pitch as well they’ll be able to move the ball.

“I’d back them to be in the top three this season. We’ve got a game plan which can hopefully hurt them. It will be open because they’ll come to win it and we need a win.

“We’re a few points off top but we back ourselves to compete once we start to get some momentum. We’re one of four or five sides who can get promoted.

“It’s certainly more competitive than last season when Manchester United ran away with it, we lost grasp of Spurs right at the end. There are a lot of strong teams this time, everyone can pick off points of everybody.”

The men’s team managed to keep hold of star striker Lyle Taylor this summer. But Charlton Women lost Graham on a free transfer even though they claimed to have extended her contract – with claims they could go legal to get compensation.

“She’s somebody I feel quite lucky to have worked with,” said Mishra. “She’d been at Charlton a long time and is proving now that not only can she compete in the top tier but she is starting every game.

“She’s at a great age to go and kick on her career.

“On one hand I’m very proud she is doing that, she’s got brilliant quality. It is so hard to replace that. But on the other hand, there was a lot of news about her departure and how it went. I’m not entirely sure what is happening on that now, I keep myself away from that.

“The timing of it and the way it unfolded was difficult for me as a manager and for our club to really recover from it – not to replace Kit, but to at least give us a chance to do something similar.

“We have started a little bit on the back foot. We also lost Liz Ejupi and some big characters.

“It will take time to rebuild. We’ve got a bigger squad, a younger squad who are probably hungrier to prove something. I see it every day in training but it is about taking that to a weekend. We’ve competed well and been in every game. Even against Brighton, who are the tier above, they scored three goals and all of them were from set-pieces.

“Confidence is a big thing for any young squad.”

Charlton have made 15 signings including former Millwall Lionesses and Manchester United striker Charlie Devlin.

“I’ve asked them to do something quite different to what managers and coaches have probably asked them to do before,” said Mishra.

“It is going to take time but the new players have brought our average age down by about five years, so it is a really inexperienced group.

“I’m really excited by the players we have got. None have proven their qualities to the maximum yet – we need to get it out of them. We’ve got creative players like Charlie and Jenna Legg, but also some that bring personality and character to the group.

“They are all here to prove something. A lot of them feel they can play at the next level, so they are using us as a springboard. They are here to work and get better.

“I’m under no illusions that London, in particular, is such a competitive market for players. With the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Spurs there are four clubs in the top tier who will be able to offer full-time training.

“We have to be able to see ourselves realistically as a springboard. If players perform well it means we will perform well.

“I’m happy and understand my role as a manager is to try and help these players get to the next level, whether that is with us or through other means. That’s got to be our job.”

Charlton Women’s last appearance at The Valley was a 3-0 derby success over Millwall Lionesses – Graham, Ejupi and Charlotte Gurr scoring. Lee Bowyer, boss of the men’s team, was in attendance.

Taylor will be at this weekend’s fixture and there will be a collection for his Pink October campaign, which is looking to raise thousands for Cancer Research UK.

“I’ve no idea what crowd to expect,” said Mishra. “I know our players and staff have been doing a lot of work in the community with schools and The University of Greenwich to encourage people to come down.

“There is a lot going on in and around the game. It’s Saturday at 3pm, the men aren’t playing and I hope season-ticket holders for the men will come down as well and give us as much support as possible.”

PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD