Cuss’s AFC Bournemouth side overcame league rivals Moneyfields twice in the space of just a few days – first beating them 3-0 in the Hampshire Senior Cup semifinal last Sunday, before a dramatic 2-1 win in the league on Wednesday night.
That win over Moneys – capped off by a stoppage-time penalty save by Erin Foley to preserve the Bournemouth lead – sets up an opportunity for the Cherries to win the league at Dean Court vs Bristol Rovers on Sunday.
Asked about getting the side’s mentality right against Rovers, with the motivation of the potential title win, Cuss told the Daily Echo: “The manager will always say, look, next game, one game at a time, one game at a time.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ “But as I said before, we're human, we can look at the league table.
“We knew what this week was. A semifinal on a Sunday against our rivals in the league, a top of table clash on Wednesday and then a game at the Vitality Stadium.
“I don't think there's a bigger eight days in the history of AFC Bournemouth Women's and it's difficult for me to say to the players one game at a time when that's going on, when they're all looking at everything that's coming ahead.
“But that's what we have to do, we have to perform.
“That's what I thought was really good, we've talked about how we play and when we're really going for it and when we're really open, we can really hurt teams.
“And then when it's not quite our night, as it wasn't on Wednesday, and full credit to Moneyfields for their performance in that and stopping us playing, we found a way.
_(Image: Newsquest)_ “I saw that determination in the players to hold on to that narrow lead that we had.
“Again, that shows great strength off the back of what they've been doing this week and the energy levels they've been putting in to find that strength to get over the line, full credit to the players for doing that.”
Cuss praised the group further, saying their mental strength is so good that he has had to tell them to enjoy the moments as they happen, because they have been so focused on the big-picture job at hand.
There have been discussions recently on letting those emotions show when they win games and make that next step, none more so than the dramatic victory over Moneyfields on Wednesday.
“I think this has been a challenging week,” Cuss said.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_
“I've been speaking to a lot of them. Sleep's not easy this week and it wasn't for me after the Wednesday night, you start thinking about the game.
“But I know the players found it very hard to get to sleep on a Wednesday night and they're back at work on Thursday and obviously then they’ve got the stadium game coming up.
“So they’ve just got to continue to be as disciplined as they can. Total trust between me and the players at how they prepare themselves for games.
“They know that as players, as staff, we're here to support them in everything they do and give them advice around different things.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ “But I've got to say they've just been a real credit to themselves and to the football club in how they've approached every game. Because the run you go on, you can't be as good as you can be unless you're properly prepared and really disciplined.
“Credit to the players, they've been absolutely superb this season and hopefully they continue to do that over these next couple of days in preparation for the big game that is on Sunday.”
The Cherries face Bristol Rovers on Sunday, March 23. Kick off is at 2pm at the Vitality Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased on the AFC Bournemouth website.