Beard urges his team to have belief.

🎥  Beard reacts to the late drama to earn a point

Ella Mastrantonio’s late free kick earned the Robins a valuable point on the road after Faye Bryson brilliantly brought City Women within one.

The result means the Robins remain at the foot of the Barclays FAWSL table, but only on goal difference. Aston Villa are level on points (12), while West Ham United and Birmingham City sit within touching distance in 10th and 9th with 14 points.

“It certainly had everything – it had every emotion possible in a 90-minute game,” said Beard. “We are desperately disappointed with the first half, even though we had three really good chances in the opening stages of the game but we conceded early again.

“We didn’t do what we set up to, which was really frustrating from my end. They wanted it more, first and second balls – we caused ourselves a lot of problems. We had a few choice words at half-time and I thought the application was spot on. We changed system midway through the second half and the subs made a great impact.

“What a way to finish the game for us. I said to the girls after, I think it’s about belief for us. We have played some good football and created good chances at times, but to get the point at the end was like a win for us.

“We have to take the positives of the second half performance in coming back from two goals behind and we have to move forward now and focus on Manchester United.

“The biggest thing for me is I want them to believe in themselves. Sometimes it takes a half-time team talk or showing them one or two things just to get that belief.

“It’s another point on board and there are six more to play for, so we’ve got ourselves a great chance still to stay in this division and that’s going to be our main focus from now until May 9th. “

Bristol City Women have two games remaining of the 2020/21 campaign starting with Manchester United, who visit Twerton Park on Sunday (May 2nd, 2pm KO).