India next up in Dublin

FIH CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE

Gordon Shepherd, Scotland women`s coach, has the knack
of making light of the world rankings, and India tomorrow in
the crucial quarter-finals of the FIH Champions Challenge in Dublin
could become his next victim.

India are seven places above the Scots in the rankings, but have
struggled to find consistent form in Dublin, they beat Wales 3-0 in
the opening game of the tournament, but then fell to Australia
(8-1) and Belgium (3-2) in subsequent matches, and finished third
in their pool.

“India are another team ranked far higher than us and are a very
capable team, so we need to be performing well to beat them. 
I`m confident of a win if the players continue to play like they
have,” said Shepherd.

India finished a lowly seventh in the Champions Challenge a year
ago, but did not play the Scots, the last time the sides met was in
the Commonwealth Games in Delhi two years ago, the result was a
fighting 1-1 draw with Holly Cram on target for the Scots.

Once again the Scots under Shepherd`s coaching tutelage have
punched above their weight, a win and two draws left them a
creditable second in their pool table.   But this now
counts for nothing as the tournament enters the cut-throat
knock-out stages, a win against India would push Scotland into the
promotion competition, while defeat would consign them to the
relegation group.

But Shepherd is very happy with the team form to
date.   “We`ve defended very well as a team, and  I
mean that the whole team have been very good defensively, and that
is the reason we are undefeated and have conceded only one goal in
three games against teams ranked higher than us.”

The concern has perhaps been in the goal scoring
department, only two goals in the tournament so far, but here again
Shepherd is not over concerned.   “Against this level of
opposition, we don`t expect to score lots of goals, but we`re
creating chances which is a good sign.   I would like to
score more, but what coach wouldn`t.”

A bonus is that Shepherd has no injury worries going into
tomorrow`s crucial tie against India.

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