Pre-Match Report

Ladies: Doncaster v Arsenal - Preview

Alex Scott
Alex Scott

This summer's European Championship in Sweden was a tournament that not many of the England squad will recall with fondness. But Alex Scott is a rare exception.

The dependable full back became the third member of the Arsenal Ladies squad to make 100 appearances for her country when she captained the Three Lions in their group stage draw against Russia in Linkoping last month.

After making her England debut against the Netherlands in September 2004, Scott has established herself as England's premier right back and is understandably pleased to have reached the milestone.

 

Alex in action for England at the Euros in Sweden

Alex in action for England at the Euros in Sweden

 

"Starting out as a kid, it was a dream when I started playing for Arsenal," she told Arsenal.com. "The dream was to go on and hopefully represent my country. I've got to that special landmark and played over 100 times and it's hard to put into words how proud I am.

"At the time it was hard, because of our poor results. It's hard to pick out thinking about myself in a team situation.

"As I look back now, it's a massive achievement for me to get that landmark. Not a lot of players get to do that. I'm in that elite bracket now. Every time I put on the shirt it's a huge honour for me so to get to 100 caps is definitely a dream come true and one that I never thought of making when I started playing football."

Despite England struggling in Sweden, Scott's own performances remained steady. She has produced a series of terrific displays of late for Arsenal too, scoring a crucial second goal in the 3-0 victory over table-toppers Liverpool in the first game after the summer break.

"At the start of the season, people were talking about this Arsenal team saying it's not the same and we heard all the talk. We just believed in ourselves because we know the talent we've got in this team"

Alex Scott

Shelley Kerr's side go into Wednesday's game at Doncaster Rovers Belles off the back of eight consecutive wins and Scott believes an increase in training has helped the Ladies to find peak form.

"It's good to be back on the scoresheet," she said. "My goals did dry up last season. Everyone knows I'm an attacking full back. I like to get forward so to add that to my game again is really good for me.

"Just before the Euros we picked up a good run of form with a couple of wins. When we were away, the girls that stayed in England worked really hard in the mid pre-season.

"They look really sharp and I think that showed in our first game against Liverpool. There was a real hunger and desire to go out and get the win and that's kind of continued so hopefully we can keep that momentum on Wednesday.

"At the start of the season, people were talking about this Arsenal team saying it's not the same and we heard all the talk. We just believed in ourselves because we know the talent we've got in this team.

"Now that talk has turned around and in the second half of the season, people are saying that we're showing our true character. We always knew that we had a good team so I think the pressure is now on the people at the top to stay there because [of] our games that we've got in hand, we're catching up and are heading in the right direction. We want to retain that trophy."

Wednesday's opponents Doncaster have already been demoted by the FA ahead of next year's Women's Super League revamp. They are yet to win in the league this season but Scott is expecting a tough test at Keepmoat Stadium.

"When you look at their results, teams have only been beating them by 1-0," she noted. "Birmingham only beat them in the dying minutes of the game. They've got some good players. Sue Smith has been around the game for years now and has that experience.

"We know it's going to be a tricky game even if they are at the bottom of the table. No games are easy this season. We know that we need to go into the game with the right mentality, be professional and make sure that we get the result."