Ashleigh Neville on consistency: “It has been the most consistent I have been as an individual”

Consistency is key component for any player’s performances and defender Ashleigh Neville believes that has played a vital part in her first half of the season.

The defender has featured in every game in the Barclays Women’s Super League so far this season – with four other players making 10 out of 10 appearances - and Ashleigh feels that has contributed to a solid start to the campaign from a personal level, but also as a team.

“I spoke to Robert and Vicky not long ago and I think this is the most consistent I have been at WSL level,” Ashleigh explained. “I have had times previously when I have been up-and-down, but with the stats I have looked at with the backroom staff, it has been the most consistent I have been as an individual, which obviously helps the team on the pitch, and I think they are a lot more players in the same boat as me.

“Personally, I’m enjoying playing the style of football, it suits me as a player with how I like to play as a full-back but consistency is massive for us, individually but also as a team, week in, week out, to get the results that we want.”

One of those games Ashleigh has featured in is that memorable victory over Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Martha Thomas prodded home Celin Bizet’s pass to secure our first-ever win over the Gunners, and Ashleigh – who is in her seventh season with the club – believes the victory highlighted the progression of the club.

“It was incredible. I’m still sitting on my social media feed, watching the goal back,” Ashleigh said. “For me, being at the club for seven years now, I don’t think anyone really understands how much of a win that was for us.

“It was a North London Derby and we know the rivalry between the two clubs, but for us as a women’s team it shows how far we have come, to think we have only been in the WSL for five seasons now and how long Arsenal have been up there, miles away from we have been.

“When I first started here, we were losing games to a large scoreline to Arsenal to now have finally got the win that we truly deserved is great to see how far the club has come and was great day for the supporters.”