SAINTS Women boss Remi Allen insists there is more to come from her side after they secured a 3-0 win over Sunderland on Sunday.
Goals from Rianna Dean and Molly Pike helped the 33 year old head coach secure her first competitive win since taking over from Marieanne Spacey-Cale.
Dean and Pike both scored stunning, long-range goals, catching Sunderland goalkeeper Demi Lambourne off guard with a cheeky lob.
Goalkeeper Fran Stenson had saved a penalty at 0-0 to keep Saints in the game after they lost their way in the first half.
Speaking to Southampton's media team, Allen said: “This is a hard place to come, nobody wants to come here, so to get three goals, three points and a clean sheet is massive.
“I think we started the game in the first 10 minutes flying. We could have been one or two nil up. Then the momentum changed and we weren’t as great in the rest of the first half.
“The players got told that at halftime. The second half was a mixed bag. There were some good bits but also areas we really need to improve on.
“We were clinical in the second half. Some of the finishes were frightening. I’m happy but there is more to come.
“We’ve got Fran to thank for saving a penalty and we made some last-ditch defending. That’s an area we need to tidy up."
Stenson also produced a fine diving save to prevent Sunderland scoring a stunner after they wrestled control of the game.
"That save was a worldie," Allen added. "I don’t think there are many keepers in any league making a save like that. She’s unbelievable for us.”
👏 @RiannaDean1
— Southampton FC Women (@SaintsFCWomen) September 16, 2024
👏 @mollypike01
Sunday's stunners in all their glory 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rU5AtNv4yQ
While Southampton FC's second and third strikes were goal of the month contenders, their first, scored by Dean, was a well-worked move.
Lucia Kendell retrieved possession before playing forward quickly to Rachel Rowe, who in turn found Dean in enough space to drill into the net.
Allen insisted scoring different types of goals will be important - and was pleased to see her side target a weakness identified in Sunderland's game.
“It gives us confidence. Something that we highlighted was how expansive the Sunderland defence is," she explained.
“If we won the ball back high up the pitch, we knew there would be a chance to play the ball forward really quickly.
“Did I think we would be hitting shots from 30 or 40 yards out? No, I did not. But the players have highlighted that and got the goals from it.
“The start of the season is always hard because everyone is firing, everyone is pumped. It’s important that we grind it out.
“I would love us to (hit our full stride) quicker than we are but we are ultimately grinding results out.
“There are spells of the game where I’m clapping because what they are doing is really, really good.
“We just need to make that a little bit more consistent. There is a lot to do on the training pitch but this league is about grinding stuff out.”
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