Kirsty Barton
Image by: Geoff Penn
PUBLISHED
07:00 29th November 2015
by James Hilsum
Chichester are going to provide us with a really strong challenge. "
Kirsty Barton
Brighton & Hove Albion women midfielder Kirsty Barton is refusing to underestimate Chichester when the two sides meet in a Premier League Cup tie at Culver Road today.Kirsty Barton
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The Seagulls were defeated 3-0 by their local rivals in the Sussex Challenge Cup Final two seasons ago, before securing a 2-0 win themselves in last season’s county showpiece match.
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She said, “Chichester are going to provide us with a really strong challenge. We’ve played them in the last couple of years in the County Cup and had two different results.
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“They’ve always given us a hard game and a couple of years ago they beat us in the final.
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“But it won’t make a difference on the day, as we treat every game in the same way.
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“We want to win every game just as much as any other and it won’t affect our way of looking at the game.”
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The 23-year-old will be facing a number of familiar faces in the Chichester team, with former Seagulls Amy Found, Kerrie Ryan and Lauren Cheshire all now in the Green Army ranks.
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“I don’t really think about playing against my friends because they’re our opponents.
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“I won’t treat the game any differently just because there are a few players that I know. My focus is on helping us to get as far as possible in the competition.
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“As a squad, we all want to win trophies. The league is important, but the cups are just as important to us.”
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Barton says morale is high in the squad following back-to-back wins and feels the victory over Cardiff was a key turning point.
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“We felt a bit deflated and under pressure because we know how important it is to win each week.
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“But the team spirit when we went into the Cardiff match was brilliant. Everyone was up for the game and it felt like we were all in it together.
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“The West Ham game saw us get another three important points and hopefully we can continue that form on Sunday.”
[h=3]ALBION V CHARLTON ATHLETIC*
[/h]SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V MIDDLESBROUGH*
[/h]SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 12.30PM
[h=3]ALBION V IPSWICH TOWN**
[/h]TUESDAY 29TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
Original article