Notts County Ladies: Passmoor looks to build on tough season

Rich Passmoor's side have beaten the league's top and bottom side in WSL 1 in the last two matches

Notts County Ladies manager Rick Passmoor is confident his side can learn from an injury-ravaged season and begin to challenge for trophies.

The Lady Pies guaranteed their place in the Women's Super League for next season with back-to-back wins over leaders Chelsea and Everton.

And two victories from their last two matches could see Notts finish as high as fourth in the eight-team league.

"We can build on this," Passmoor told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I am sure it won't be long before we bring some silverware back."

Notts started brightly in their first season since rebranding and relocating from Lincoln, going six games unbeaten in all competitions.

But a mounting list of injuries, most notably to England internationals Ellen White and Sophie Bradley, left Passmoor struggling for numbers.

"We have a squad of 11 full-time players and we have played games when seven have been injured," he said. "It's good to stay in the league but we have to be better. We have to be more ruthless and better up front but it will be a bright future.

"What we haven't done well with is with the ball in the final third and we have to improve that. It's a small step. I would like to thank the public for the support we have had because we have been really well backed."

With survival guaranteed, Passmoor wants a strong end to the 2014 season in their remaining games against Bristol Academy and Birmingham Ladies.

But he is also mindful of establishing a legacy and thinking long-term.

"It's so important to still be in the WSL," Passmoor said. "We have had to dig ourselves out of a problem and we have done that.

"We have had an enjoyable season. If we can now finish it by winning our last two games, we will finish in mid-table and the girls will deserve it.

"We have to get young blood within the city and around Nottinghamshire so there is a pathway. The other thing is we also have to bring players in and be ruthless."