AFC Women manager Scott Booth sat down to reflect on the start of his return to life in Aberdeen and look ahead to an important game in the Sky Sports Cup at Boroughmuir Thistle on Sunday, as his side look to seal their place in the Semi-final of the cup.
“Wednesday felt a bit like a replay of the game against Hibs. In that game, we went into halftime at one-all. We were still in it, worked hard to stay competitive, but then gave up a couple of quick goals early in the second half. Before you know it, heads were down. The same thing happened against Motherwell. Against Motherwell, we were well-organized. The players did exactly what I wanted in terms of off-the-ball play during the first half. When you have three games in a week, it’s hard on the legs. We don’t have a huge squad, and certainly not one with extensive experience, so sometimes we have to conserve energy. We did that well in the first half, but we still had to work very hard to keep the game at 0-0, and we even had a few chances ourselves. When we won the ball back, if we’d just made the right pass, we could have had a few one-on-ones with their keeper—probably three or four chances, where a little more precision could have put us in a strong attacking position. Motherwell has a strong squad, and they’re bringing on players with years of league experience. Players I know well came off the bench, strengthening them in the second half.”
“That made it tough for our players to keep up. I think we wore down a lot in the second half of both games, so that’s something we need to work on. Still, there were positives from the first half. The players really took on board the things we’d covered in training, even though it’s been a short time together. Our defensive shape has been good. We can definitely improve when we regain possession, but there were moments when we moved the ball really well, creating attacking opportunities by opening up the opposition. Against Hibs, we scored early and kept them on their toes. We had moments in that game where we could have scored more than one goal. One of the biggest positives for me has been how much we’ve learned about each other in this short time.”
“With three games in the first week, it’s been a lot for the players. They’re adjusting to a new coach, new ideas. The big thing is that the players, coaching staff, and I all understand what we need to improve on, and we’re committed to working hard to get there.”
“It’s frustrating. At halftime in the Motherwell game, I told them we needed to make sure it didn’t happen again—but it did. So yes, we have to work on this. It comes down to confidence and belief that even if you concede a goal, you’re still in the game. Just as Hibs kept pushing after we scored, you can’t let one goal drop your morale. There’s still a job to do, and I think that’s something we’re learning as a squad.”
“The players know they’re representing Aberdeen, and they understand that we can’t let the score run up in a short span of time. That doesn’t reflect what the club stands for, and I think they’re starting to realize that.”
“There’s no doubt we have a young squad, but that’s not an excuse. It just means they carry a lot of responsibility when they step out for Aberdeen. We’ve played two top-six teams, and while they may not be in first or second place, they’re in the top six for a reason. It’s tough for young players to handle a three-game week with a new coach. When things get tough, it takes experience to know how to push through that, and some of our players haven’t had that experience yet. We’re looking at how we can support our young players through these situations, because it’s hard on them. They need experience around them. Motherwell, for example, brought on experienced players like Chelsea Watson and Katie Rice, players who know how to handle the game’s intensity. We need to make sure we’re protecting and nurturing our young players so they can develop without being thrown in the deep end.”
“I think we need to bring in some experienced players. But I also want to work closely with our young players to make sure they’re getting the right information and don’t feel unsupported. We’re only about 4 training sessions into my time here, so there’s a long road ahead. We’re looking at all the different aspects of the club and what we need to build a strong foundation. That includes staffing, player needs, and training schedules. There’s a lot of work in the background to create a platform for player success.”
A rare positive that came out of Wednesday night was that Chloe Gover became the teams all-time record appearance holder with 146 appearances, taking over former midfielder Eilidh Shore.
“Absolutely, it’s a remarkable achievement. She’s been fantastic since I came in, and I look forward to seeing her add even more appearances for the club.”
Sunday brings a new challenge in the form of Boroughmuir Thistle at Meadowbank, with a place in the Semi-final of the Sky Sports Cup up for grabs.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a tough game. I’ve watched Boroughmuir, and they’ve signed some quality players, including a couple I know well. They play good football—building from the back and playing through the midfield. It’s a nice chance to focus on the cup, park the league for a bit.”
“There are no easy games. Some might assume it’s an easier match because they’re unfamiliar with Boroughmuir, but they are good team. It’ll be a tough game, but it’s a chance to take Aberdeen into a cup Semi-final, which is exciting.”
“The girls have been through a lot. It’s a young squad, and they’ve had a lot of uncertainty. The club did everything it could to support them during the interim periods, but the lack of stability has been challenging. It’s been tough for them, no doubt. But I’ve really enjoyed working with them this week, and I want to make sure they know we’re supporting them. If they feel that, I know they’ll give 100% every game.”
“They are looking forward to the cup game as well. It’s a nice change from the league, and the potential to reach the Semi-final is exciting for everyone.”
