'We're going to have a go' - Beard.

The Blues lost their first game of the campaign against all odds last weekend as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, and Beard is hoping that his side can take inspiration from the result as they look to beat Chelsea for the first time since 2013.

“No one expected Brighton to go to Kingsmeadow and beat Chelsea, so it proves it can be done,” said Beard.

“That can definitely give us some confidence going into that game and we're playing well. 

“We know Chelsea are a world-class team, but we're in a good moment at the moment, if that makes sense, and I'm really looking forward to testing ourselves against a top team.  

“It’s coming up to the international break, so if we could get three points then it gets us off the bottom of the table, which is a great incentive for us, so as I said we’re going to definitely have a go.”

City go into the game on the back of a longer rest period than expected after the midweek fixture against Tottenham Hotspur was postponed due to a frozen pitch, and Beard can take both positives and negatives from the extra time off.

“It's disappointing not to play the game [Tottenham Hotspur fixture], especially as we've been on a good run over the last couple of weeks. 
 
“It’s been a real busy period for us, so on the flip side, it means that we've had an extra day of rest and everyone's fully fresh and fit going into Sunday against Chelsea, which obviously is going to be a very tough test. 

“One thing I committed to the group when I came in was that we are going to have a go. 

"We are in a position where it's out of our hands and the one thing that we will do is we will put in a performance to try and win the game. 

“We’re definitely setting up to try and win the game and the group has responded really well on Wednesday and an in training today.”

The Chelsea game will be Beard’s fifth game in charge after taking over from Tanya Oxtoby in the new year, and the 43-year-old has been extremely impressed with the attitude of the players since his arrival.

“Like any team, we have good days and we have bad days but the one thing that I can always credit this group for is that that their togetherness and their work ethic is fantastic.

“I think in football that’s half the battle, more so than anything else, and I think we've proved that in training we've proved it in on a matchday. 

“I've seen loads of little different sides to the group, but the other key thing is we've got competition for places now so everyone's fighting for that spot.”

After the signings of Molly Pike and Kiera Skeels in January, Beard has strengthened the depth of the Robins’ current squad as they gear up for a busy second half of the season. Competition for places has never been stronger, and Beard feels competition in the team has helped the overall performance.  

"Things with me are done on merit, and the players that are playing at the moment are playing well, but you've got players chomping at the bit to get into the team, so for me that's fantastic.

“I did say to the non-playing players in front of the group on Monday how well they’ve been doing in training, their attitude has been brilliant and so has the way they’ve supported the team. 

“If they've not got on the pitch, they've got their heads down and they've done the additional bits needed to be done and what I love about the starting players is there out there supporting them as well, and that's what I love about this group.”