Manchester City v Doncaster Rovers Belles: Belles '˜must be more clinical' - Coates

Belles are bottom of FAWSL1 having lost seven games out of seven.

They travel to big-spending Manchester City on Sunday (2pm) in the quarter-finals of the Continental Tyres Cup.

“It feels a bit like the world is against us with the way things are falling in the box and time is against us now to turn it around,” said Coates.

“We have to work on it, goals come with confidence.

“I really hope the fans can see the effort the girls are putting in but we have to start scoring.

“We’ve worked on it in training, we’ve been getting balls into the box but we’ve got to start putting them away.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City, she added: “We had three chances and we should have scored.

“Luck’s just not with us, we’re not clinical enough and we’re not striking the ball well enough.

“In terms of performance, though, we had some good phases.

“Everyone is showing that fight and desire and I think that was missing during the first half of the season.

“I don’t think we had that fight, commitment and belief.

“Right till the final whistle we were still pushing and creating opportunities and that’s what is tough for the girls. That’s what makes it hurt so much.”

Coates was this week checking on the fitness of midfielder Emily Simpkins (hamstring) and striker Jess Sigsworth (knee).