Faye Baker has spelt out why Albion Women can turn their turbulent few weeks into business as usual – by clinching promotion.

The Seagulls chase a WSL2 place when they take on rivals Sporting Club Albion in a play-off at Adams Park, home of Wycombe Wanderers, on Sunday (2pm).

It will be their first game since clinching the Premier League southern division title back on April 10, since when there have been some dramatic changes.

But a place in the second tier of women’s football will await if they can put that behind them and beat the side who knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier this season.

Manager James Marrs and women’s football chief Tracy Doe were dismissed soon after the title-clinching 2-1 win at Tottenham almost seven weeks ago.

Three star players have since left in 14-goal top scorer Charlotte Gurr, midfielder Jay Blackie and classy centre-back Deanna Cooper, who scored nine goals.

George Parris has taken interim charge of the side and Baker says neither those weeks of upheaval, nor the FA Cup defeat to the Black Country outfit should count against them on the big day.

The Albion goalkeeper said: “There was change and it was tough to take but everybody who has stayed has stuck together and is determined to get what we deserve.

“Our structure is no different. It will just be different personnel.

“We have got a great squad and a lot of strength in depth.

“They are three key players we have lost and we wish them well but I feel they are gaps that can be filled by players who have worked hard and deserve their chance.

“In some games, those three players have sat out or been rested and there have been people who have come in and done a job and shown they are more than capable. I think we are a great squad and we have got a great chance.”

 

Baker missed the FA Cup defeat in which Albion quickly went 3-0 down, charged back to level the scores and were then beaten by a header from a set-piece.

She said: “We were disappointed on the day. We didn’t set up how we normally set up and we had quite a few players missing.

“I don’t think they know the real deal about us.

“We had a lot of possession and missed chances and they were 3-0 up in the first 15 minutes.”

Albion took 28 points from their last ten league games to finish two clear of Charlton. They tallied 54 points from 22 fixtures.

Of the current squad, Amy Taylor scored 11 league goals, Kate Natkiel hit five and Lisa Fulgence, who did not actually start a game, added four from six outings off the bench.

Sporting Club won the northern section by four points, taking 53 from 22 matches, and were led in scoring by ten-goal Abigail Cottam.

While the records of the two sides across the season were very similar, there was a contrast in timing.

Sporting finished their season five weeks later than the Seagulls.

Baker said: “They had their last game last week but that works one of two ways. They might be slightly tired and have been more focussed on other games or it could work in their favour and they are in the swing of things.

“We haven’t had game time for six or seven weeks but it comes down to who wants it most and who is best prepared.

“In the last couple of weeks we have worked more on positional play and phases of play. We have had a couple of in-house friendlies and more of a match feel. We are non-stop training. It’s all systems go.”