Sophie Brisland-Hancocks | We have to keep raising the bar in pre-season

Swansea City Women’s midfielder Sophie Brisland-Hancocks says there is plenty of optimism in the squad after beginning their pre-season schedule with three 35 minute games against Bridgwater United Women.

Brisland-Hancocks played across all three outings, with the Swans playing out two goalless draws, before winning their final game 2-1.

Stacey John-Davis fired the Swans in front, before a trialist netted from outside the box to double the lead. Bridgwater would quickly respond with a goal of their own, but couldn’t prevent the Swans from claiming the win.

Brisland-Hancocks was glad to get some valuable minutes under her belt, and is confident about what lies ahead under first-team manager Jamie Sherwood.

“We are all feeling really optimistic and really positive,” said Brisland-Hancocks.

“It was new faces on the pitch, new staff on the sidelines, new ways of playing, so it’s quite exciting. It’s our first week back and now it’s full steam ahead.

“The vibe around the camp is really positive, we want to improve on what we did last season and that starts right here.

“We are working hard when we’re training, but we are also working hard when we are playing, so the game was the start of it and the expectation is we raise the bar throughout pre-season.

“Getting the minutes into people’s legs is really important, we’ve had a good time off, people have done their work through the off-season but it’s completely different when you’re playing on a pitch.

“For us as players it’s really important, and for the coaching staff. We just have to keep it going moving forward.

“There were new formations and styles of play for us so we had to find our feet, but it was really important for us to finish strong and find those goals.”