"Three goals for Rio, a goal for Robbo, three points and an academy debut; I think we'll take that as a positive day"
Bristol City boss Charlotte Healy speaks to the media at Ashton Gate(Image: Photo by Ryan Hiscott - WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images)
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Charlotte Healy has been left feeling "really proud" of Rio Hardy after the Bristol City Women striker helped fire the Robins to their first win of the season with a hat-trick against Watford.
The Reds secured their first points of the season with a 5-1 win over the Hornets at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon. Three goals from Hardy, alongside an Aoibheann Clancy own-goal and a late Katie Robinson strike ensured City got their campaign up and running.
Hardy gave the Robins the advantage shortly before the break, when she curled into the top left corner from just inside the box, before doubling her tally for the afternoon moments after the hour-mark. Then, after Lucy Lyon was shown a red card, the forward converted from the penalty spot to restore City's two-goal advantage.
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The Hornets were then reduced to nine players when Eva Gray was sent off for a foul on Lotta Lindstrom. With their two-player advantage, Healy's side wrapped up the points in a professional manner to get off the mark for the campaign.
"I think a lot pleased us about the performance," the City boss told the Robins' media team. "Winning the game was really important today, so three points first and foremost, but I think just the manner in which we did it. I think we saw a little bit of everything.
"That was a tough, tough game; Watford are a good team, they'll take points off teams, for sure, this season. We've already seen that, so we had to be a bit more patient than we probably wanted to be, and there were a few things we had to adjust, but I thought we created some really good chances today.
"Rio scoring a hat-trick, Robbo coming off the bench and scoring was really pleasing for us; Neeve, making her debut, but also the players and how they reacted. There was a lot of adversity in that game, a lot that wasn't in our control, and there are moments where you can lose momentum or get frustrated with decisions that are made.
"From my point of view, I thought we reacted brilliantly and comfortably got the three points in the end."
On Hardy's hat-trick, Healy added, "I'm really proud of her because she's had a difficult first few games, but how she applies herself in training is a testament to her.
"We knew she was going to score today - I just had a real feeling about it. She's one of our captains, and I thought it was a really good captain's or vice-captain's performance today from her.
"Three goals for Rio, a goal for Robbo, three points and an academy debut; I think we'll take that as a positive day."
City's win at Vicarage Road sees them climb up and away from the bottom of the WSL 2. After three matches, the Reds find themselves eighth in the second tier table, three points clear of Durham and the relegation zone, and only four adrift of second-placed Sunderland.
Healy's side will have their next chance to further close that gap on Saturday, when they travel to Lancashire to face Burnley. Though the Clarets are expected to provide another tough test, Healy is hoping her squad will be able to build on their performance against Watford.
"We've got our first points on the board, and we now have to make sure we continue that momentum," she explained. "We have to review the game; there are things that we can still do better, but ultimately, the girls found a way to win today.
"They showed their quality, and we have to make sure we do that again, and again, and again. There are things that we want to improve, absolutely, and Burnley will be a different test to what Watford were today, but we have to make sure we go into that game with more confidence now."