LEVELL FULL OF PRAISE FOR CLARETS BACK LINE

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Goalkeeper looks ahead to Hull City trip

2024-11-15T09:42:36.870Z

LEVELL FULL OF PRAISE FOR CLARETS BACK LINE

Goalkeeper looks ahead to Hull City trip

2024-11-15T09:42:36.870Z

Goalkeeper looks ahead to Hull City trip

Kirstie Levell is enjoying playing behind a Burnley Women defensive unit that she describes as ‘a force to be reckoned with’ this season.

The stats back that statement up, with the Clarets’ back line conceding the second fewest goals in the Northern Premier Division of the Women’s National League so far.

Their six is only bettered by Nottingham Forest’s four, and Rebecca Sawiuk’s side will be aiming for another clean sheet when they play Hull City on Sunday.

“Our back line are a force to be reckoned with,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to be a striker running up against them – especially our centre backs!”

“Credit to them because they’ve been performing really well and have helped decrease the amount of shots from the opposition, which has made my life a lot easier.

“I’m enjoying being able to watch the game in front of me a lot more this season!”

LEVELL FULL OF PRAISE FOR CLARETS BACK LINE - Image 1

Last week’s 3-1 victory over Sporting Khalsa ended a run of four straight clean sheets in all competitions for the Clarets, with Levell and fellow ‘keeper Naiosha McAloon keeping two each.

Reflecting on that game in the Midlands, Levell continued: “We were happy with the performance because we showed a lot of our team DNA.

“There were lots of really good things to be pleased about but we switched off in the last 10 minutes or so and that’s probably helped lead to their goal.

“We’ve worked hard in training this week to try and put that right and that starts with set pieces, where the goal came from.”

Burnley have beaten Hull twice already this season, following up a 9-0 victory at home on the opening day with a 1-0 victory at their place in the FA Women’s National League Cup last month.

The Easy Buy Arena is the venue for this weekend’s game just as it was in October.

Levell finished by looking back at the cup tie and explaining what kind of challenge the team are expecting this time around.

LEVELL FULL OF PRAISE FOR CLARETS BACK LINE - Image 2

“Credit to their fans; it was a hard ground to go to because that’s all you heard, and potentially played a part in why we only came away with a 1-0,” the 27-year-old said.

“When we look back we know we created so many more chances, and it’s about putting them away now.

“Hull are a blocking team and we know they won’t make it easy for us.

“A lot of teams change formation game to game so we can’t go into it thinking we beat these last time and they’re going to play the same way, because sometimes teams surprise you in this league.”

Barton Town’s Easy Buy Stadium (DN18 5RL) is the venue for Sunday’s match, with kick-off at 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased online and are priced at £7 for adults, £6 for concessions and £1 for under-16s. Please note that tickets will increase by £1 after 3pm on Friday 15th November.

If you can’t be there in person, live updates will be shared on our dedicated women’s social media channels and a match report will follow the final whistle on www.burnleyfootballclub.com.

A reminder, too, that Levell and her team-mates will take to the Turf Moor pitch on Saturday 14th December against Stoke City in the quarter finals of the FA Women's National League Cup.