Unveiling Bristol City Head Coach Lauren Smith's Strategic Gameplan: A Remarkable Escape from WSL Drop Inspired by Leicester's Triumph!

"People perceive us as the dominant team, both when ascending and descending – these remarks have been made, but we are determined to refute them," expresses Lauren Smith, the head coach of Bristol City, the recent addition to the WSL. Notably, Bristol City is the sole club promoted to the WSL since 2018, without any affiliation to a men's Premier League team.

Despite playing their matches at the extravagant Ashton Gate stadium, which can accommodate 27,000 spectators, budget limitations make it highly likely that they will be the frontrunners to drop back down to the Women's Championship in their first attempt.

In order to disrupt the current hierarchy, the Robins will need to demonstrate resourcefulness. However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Smith, who has experienced it throughout their tenure with the club.

Upon her return to the West Country two years ago, she took on the challenge of assuming her first senior managerial position following their demotion. Inheriting a team with a mere six players and a staff consisting of three members, including herself, she faced a daunting task that she herself refers to as "terrifying." However, she found solace in the familiarity of her surroundings, having previously overseen various age groups within the club's academy and served as an assistant head coach.

The club's transition also provided a significant opportunity for her, if she could seize it. An opportunity to start from scratch, to reconstruct the club from the very beginning, and without the typical decline in morale that comes with relegation.

The fact that City is already back in the top league demonstrates her remarkable success and the strong foundation she established in a remarkably short period of time.

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Smith, who was positioned second from the right, successfully guided Bristol City to victory in the Women's Championship in the previous season. The impact of her leadership is evident as seven players who were part of the starting lineup in her inaugural match as coach in 2021 are likely to be included in the team sheet for the upcoming WSL match against Leicester on October 1.

"There was a moment in the early stages when we suffered a few defeats and I had a concern, thinking, 'Oh God, not another relegation,'" she shares with a smile. "It was a complete reconstruction of everything.

"Throughout that initial summer, I was constantly updating our roster with players who would seamlessly integrate into our club, while also finding replacements for those who were signed by other clubs."

I felt stuck for a period of time, but then we began to attract more people and things improved rapidly.

Being a head coach for the first time made me proud and appreciative. I was also a bit scared, or perhaps I should say, terrified, but it presented an opportunity to explore new ideas and embrace a fresh experience.

The positive effects of that are evident now. Brooke Aspin and Naomi Layzell, among other players selected from the academy and development teams, have experienced two years of first-team football as a result. They have proved their abilities through this opportunity. We have a talented and dedicated group of young players who have actively contributed to the team's success for two seasons.

Smith formed a determined team and successfully accomplished their goal by dominating Charlton with a resounding 4-0 victory in April, ultimately earning their promotion to the WSL. The intensity of the moment was so overpowering that she cannot recall the second half of the game, as the combination of memories starting from an incomplete roster to conquering the championship became too overwhelming to handle.

After savoring the flavor of triumph, it was time to return to the drawing board for the purpose of recruiting for this season - and assembling another group of ambitious players determined to prove that the more prominent clubs had made a mistake by releasing them from their clutches.

"Our signings revolve around individuals yearning for a genuine chance once more," Smith explains. "An opportunity awaits here, so who will seize it? As a result, we have formed a tremendously optimistic squad."

The players we have signed and retained possess determination, a desire to prove themselves, and resilience. Our expectation is to witness their ambition.

Maintaining this level of mental strength is of utmost importance in the upcoming season. In the previous year, City emerged victorious in 15 out of their 22 Championship games.

The Robins could potentially endure multiple losses this season and still avoid relegation. However, if they allow defeats to negatively impact their morale, they will face difficulties. Smith points to Leicester, who experienced a remarkable turnaround last season after losing their first nine games, as a model to emulate.

"Leicester executed this strategy excellently last year after Christmas, completely shifting their situation - despite being on the brink of relegation, they fought hard to escape it. We can adopt a similar mindset from the start."

We have performance goals in various aspects, while the players also have their personal targets, which we do not disclose publicly. However, I believe it is crucial to not solely concentrate on winning or drawing. If we consider Leicester's survival last year, their entire playing style transformed due to a newfound belief. Focusing too much on the end result can either hinder our progress or give us unrealistic expectations. This is the approach we adopt as well.

Apart from the scoreline, Manchester City's narrow loss in their first friendly match was reason for cautious optimism among the City hierarchy. This was especially true considering their previous 14-1 defeat against Gareth Taylor's side in two cup games last season. The City officials felt a heightened level of respect from their high-spending opponents. Instagram.

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Certainly, in environments where respect is lacking, it serves to motivate the club. In the final stretch to achieve victory, Smith and her team resorted to displaying a countdown on the dressing room wall, indicating the number of days remaining - a visual reminder of the limited time to make a significant impact and for her players to fulfill their aspirations.

This time, those print-outs could potentially be substituted with the voices of dissent. This is because Smith has a remarkable ability to prove skeptics wrong.